rackle

English

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈɹæ.kəl/

Etymology 1

From Middle English rakyl (“chain”), apparently related to Old Frisian rakels (“chain”), French racle ("the iron ring of a door") (from a Germanic source), and also Middle English rakente, from Old English racente (“chain, fetter”). More at rackan.

Alternative forms
  • rakkill (Scotland)

Noun

rackle (plural rackles)

  1. (Britain dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) A chain.

Etymology 2

Origin uncertain. Probably from rack (“to drive; move; go forward rapidly”), alteration of Middle English reken (“to drive; move; tend”), from Old Norse reka, vreka (“to drive; drift; toss”) +‎ -le (“tending or prone to”). Related to Icelandic reka, Swedish vräka, Danish vrage, English wrack.

Adjective

rackle (comparative more rackle, superlative most rackle)

  1. Of a person: rash, impetuous, reckless
  2. Rough, crude
  3. Sturdy in old age

Anagrams
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