Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Rack \Rack\, n. [Probably fr. D. rek, rekbank, a rack, rekken to
   stretch; akin to G. reck, reckbank, a rack, recken to
   stretch, Dan. r[ae]kke, Sw. r["a]cka, Icel. rekja to spread
   out, Goth. refrakjan to stretch out; cf. L. porrigere, Gr. ?.
   ? Cf. {Right}, a., {Ratch}.]
   1. An instrument or frame used for stretching, extending,
      retaining, or displaying, something. Specifically:
      (a) An engine of torture, consisting of a large frame,
          upon which the body was gradually stretched until,
          sometimes, the joints were dislocated; -- formerly
          used judicially for extorting confessions from
          criminals or suspected persons.

                During the troubles of the fifteenth century, a
                rack was introduced into the Tower, and was
                occasionally used under the plea of political
                necessity.                        --Macaulay.
      (b) An instrument for bending a bow.
      (c) A grate on which bacon is laid.
      (d) A frame or device of various construction for holding,
          and preventing the waste of, hay, grain, etc.,
          supplied to beasts.
      (e) A frame on which articles are deposited for keeping or
          arranged for display; as, a clothes rack; a bottle
          rack, etc.
      (f) (Naut.) A piece or frame of wood, having several
          sheaves, through which the running rigging passes; --
          called also {rack block}. Also, a frame to hold shot.
      (g) (Mining) A frame or table on which ores are separated
          or washed.
      (h) A frame fitted to a wagon for carrying hay, straw, or
          grain on the stalk, or other bulky loads.
      (i) A distaff.

   2. (Mech.) A bar with teeth on its face, or edge, to work
      with those of a wheel, pinion, or worm, which is to drive
      it or be driven by it.

   3. That which is extorted; exaction. [Obs.] --Sir E. Sandys.

   {Mangle rack}. (Mach.) See under {Mangle}. n.

   {Rack block}. (Naut.) See def. 1
      (f), above.

   {Rack lashing}, a lashing or binding where the rope is
      tightened, and held tight by the use of a small stick of
      wood twisted around.

   {Rack rail} (Railroads), a toothed rack, laid as a rail, to
      afford a hold for teeth on the driving wheel of locomotive
      for climbing steep gradients, as in ascending a mountain.
      

   {Rack saw}, a saw having wide teeth.

   {Rack stick}, the stick used in a rack lashing.

   {To be on the rack}, to suffer torture, physical or mental.
      

   {To live at rack and manger}, to live on the best at
      another's expense. [Colloq.]

   {To put to the rack}, to subject to torture; to torment.

            A fit of the stone puts a kingto the rack, and makes
            him as miserable as it does the meanest subject.
                                                  --Sir W.
                                                  Temple.

Mangle \Man"gle\, n. [D. mangel, fr. OE. mangonel a machine for
   throwing stones, LL. manganum, Gr. ? a machine for defending
   fortifications, axis of a pulley. Cf. {Mangonel}.]
   A machine for smoothing linen or cotton cloth, as sheets,
   tablecloths, napkins, and clothing, by roller pressure.

   {Mangle rack} (Mach.), a contrivance for converting
      continuous circular motion into reciprocating rectilinear
      motion, by means of a rack and pinion, as in the mangle.
      The pinion is held to the rack by a groove in such a
      manner that it passes alternately from one side of the
      rack to the other, and thus gives motion to it in opposite
      directions, according to the side in which its teeth are
      engaged.

   {Mangle wheel}, a wheel in which the teeth, or pins, on its
      face, are interrupted on one side, and the pinion, working
      in them, passes from inside to outside of the teeth
      alternately, thus converting the continuous circular
      motion of the pinion into a reciprocating circular motion
      of the wheel.