Part 6

Ra*cem"u*lose` (r*sm"*ls`), a. (Bot.) Growing in very small racemes.

Ra"cer (r"sr), n. 1. One who, or that which, races, or contends in a race; esp., a race horse.

And bade the nimblest racer seize the prize.

Pope.

2. (Zoöl.) The common American black snake.

3. (Mil.) One of the circular iron or steel rails on which the chassis of a heavy gun is turned.

{ Rach, Rache (rch) }, n. [AS. ræcc; akin to Icel. rakki.] (Zoöl.) A dog that pursued his prey by scent, as distinguished from the greyhound. [Obs.]

||Ra`chi*al"gi*a (r`k*l"j*), n. [NL., fr. Gr. "ra`chis backbone + ||'a`lgos pain.] (Med.) A painful affection of the spine; especially, ||Pott's disease; also, formerly, lead colic.

Ra*chid"i*an (r*kd"*an), a. [See Rachis.] (Anat. & Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the rachis; spinal; vertebral. Same as Rhachidian.

||Ra*chil"la (r*kl"l), n. [NL.] (Bot.) Same as Rhachilla.

Ra"chi*o*dont (r"k**dnt), a. (Zoöl.) Same as Rhachiodont.

||Ra"chis (r"ks), n.; pl. E. Rachises (-z), L. Rachides (rk"*dz). [NL., ||fr. Gr. "ra`chis, -ios.] [Written also rhachis.] 1. (Anat.) The ||spine; the vertebral column.

2. (Bot. & Zoöl.) Same as Rhachis.

Ra*chit"ic (r*kt"k), a. [Cf. F. rachitique. See Rachitis.] (Med.) Of or pertaining to rachitis; affected by rachitis; rickety.

||Ra*chi"tis (r*k"ts), n. [NL., fr. Gr. "rachi^tis (sc. nosos), fr. ||"ra`chis, -ios, the spine.] [Written also rhachitis.] 1. (Med.) ||Literally, inflammation of the spine, but commonly applied to the ||rickets. See Rickets.

2. (Bot.) A disease which produces abortion in the fruit or seeds. Henslow.

Ra"chi*tome (r"k*tm), n. [F., fr. Gr. "ra`chis, - ios, the spine + te`mnein to cut.] A dissecting instrument for opening the spinal canal. [Written also rachiotome.]

Ra"cial (r"shal), a. Of or pertaining to a race or family of men; as, the racial complexion.

Ra"ci*ly (r"s*l), adv. In a racy manner.

Ra"ci*ness (r"s*ns), n. The quality of being racy; peculiar and piquant flavor.

The general characteristics of his [Cobbett's] style were perspicuity, unequaled and inimitable; . . . a purity always simple, and raciness often elegant.

London Times.

Ra"cing (r"sng), a. & n. from Race, v. t. & i.

Racing crab (Zoöl.), an ocypodian.

Rack (rk), n. Same as Arrack.

Rack, n. [AS. hracca neck, hinder part of the head; cf. AS. hraca throat, G. rachen throat, E. retch.] The neck and spine of a fore quarter of veal or mutton.

Rack, n. [See Wreck.] A wreck; destruction. [Obs., except in a few phrases.]

Rack and ruin, destruction; utter ruin. [Colloq.] -- To go to rack, to perish; to be destroyed. [Colloq.] "All goes to rack." Pepys.