Middle English Dictionary Entry
rak n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | rak n.(1) Also rac(k(e, reck(e, rake, rakke. |
| Etymology | ?OE racu cloud, storm, with retention of short a perh. due to influence of ON (cp. OI rek thing drifted ashore, Norw. dial. rag flotsam driven ashore) or OE wræc what is driven. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A rain cloud, storm cloud, storm; rein and ~; (b) movement, rapid movement; a rush; haven rap and ~, to have swift passage; on ~, god (gret) ~, immediately, very quickly.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)139 : Roȝ rakkes þer ros with rudnyng an-vnder.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)176 : He þat rules þe rak may rwe on þose oþer.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1695 : In rede rudede vpon rak rises þe sunne, And ful clere costez þe clowdes of þe welkyn.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)108/119 : Treule, ȝif ȝe wil haloue þis holeday, Þe rakkis of heuen I wil opyn, And multyple ȝou in me fore euer and ay.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)35.386 : The Schipe wente Evere to fore the wynd Swiftere than þe Rakke In þe Eyr be kynd.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)123/7 : The rakke of þe rede skye full rappely I ridde. Thondres..by thousandes I thrawe.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)55 : Cloudes clateren gon, as þey cleue wolde; Þe racke myd a rede wynde roos on þe myddel, & sone sette on þe se out of þe souþ syde, Blewe on þe brode se, bolned vp harde.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)3.135 : At mydday in the sowthe..euery Rakke and euery cloudy skye Is voyde clene.
- ?c1450 Page SRouen (Hrl 2256)373/993 : The clothis that weren on her back Kepte hem there from rayne & rack.
b
- c1300 Body & S.(5) (LdMisc 108)p.43 : Wedir i ede up or doun, Þat i ne bar þe on my bac, Als þin as fro toun to toun, Als se þouȝ me lete have rap and rac?
- a1325 Prov.Hend.(Cmb Gg 1.1)st.43 : Oft and lome rake [Dgb: rape] ful rewit.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)3476 : Þe þre come þo gret rac; þe oþer foure, forto wreken Þe þre, gun her launces breken.
- c1390(c1350) NHom.(2) PSanct.(Vrn)84/74 : Aftur þei schoken a ful gret schak, To proude pilate þei gon pas, To heroude þei runne on rak.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4232 : Ouer þe table he lep, gode rak -- Quyk in his waye he hym diȝth.
- c1450(?a1400) Siege Milan (Add 31042)1249 : Thay ruysschede Samen with swilke a rake That many a Sarazene laye on his bake.