From Middle English rake [and other forms], from Old English raca, racu, ræce (“tool with a row of pointed teeth, rake”), from Proto-Germanic *rakō, *rekô (“tool with a row of pointed teeth, rake”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- (“to straighten, right oneself”). Cognates The English word is cognate with Danish rage (chiefly regional), Middle Dutch rāke, rēke (modern Dutch raak, reek (both regional), riek (“pitchfork, rake”)), Middle Low German rāke, racke (modern German Low German Raak (“rake; poker”)), Old High German rehho, rech (Middle High German reche, modern German Rechen (“rake”)), Old Norse reka (“shovel”) (modern Icelandic reka (“shovel”)), Old Saxon recho, Old Swedish raka (modern Swedish raka (“rake; (long) straight section of a road”)).
1
Agriculture, Business, Horticulture, Lifestyle A garden tool with a row of pointed teeth fixed to a long handle, used for collecting debris, grass, etc., for flattening the ground, or for loosening soil; also, a similar wheel-mounted tool drawn by a horse or a tractor.
Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out. […] Ikey the blacksmith had forged us a spearhead after a sketch from a picture of a Greek warrior; and a rake-handle served as a shaft.1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], “The Old Punt: A Curious ‘Turnpike’”, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC, pages 19–20:
› A similarly shaped tool used for other purposes.
2
Gambling, GamesBroadly A tool with a straight edge at the end used by a croupier to move chips or money across a gaming table.
3
Broadly A type of lockpick that has a ridged or notched blade that moves across the pins in a pin tumbler lock, causing them to settle into a shear line.
I've been dealing primarily with rake and spaceship interactions for ease of experimentation (a rake will invariably escape before being eaten by even its most hellish progeny, and a spaceship is easy to redraw on the spot).1991 January 10, Paul Callahan, “Questions and comments about Conway's Life (long)”, in comp.theory.cell-automata (Usenet):
That would mean building rake guns or glider gun arrays to construct moving walls.2003 August 19, Ilmari Karonen, “Inquiries about Conway's game of life”, in comp.theory.cell-automata (Usenet):
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The switch engine is unstable but a number of them working in combination can form stable puffers, spaceships and rakes.2015, Paul Rendell, Turing Machine Universality of the Game of Life, page 133:
The verb is partly derived from rake (“tool with a row of pointed teeth”) (see etymology 1) and from Middle English raken (“to rake; to gather by raking; to rake away (debris); to cover with something; (figurative) to conceal, hide; to destroy”) [and other forms], from Old Norse raka (“to scrape”), from Proto-Germanic *raką, probably ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- (“to straighten, right oneself”). Cognates The English word is cognate with Middle Dutch rāken (modern Dutch raken (“to rake”) (regional)), Middle Low German rāken, Old Danish raghæ, rakæ (modern Danish rage (“to shave”)), Old Swedish raka (modern Swedish raka (“to rake; to shave”)). The noun is derived from the verb.
Also, Figuratively Often followed by in: to gather (things which are apart) together, especially quickly.
The casino is just raking in the cash; it’s like a licence to print money.
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Often followed by an adverb or preposition such as away, off, out, etc.: to drag or pull in a certain direction.
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Ambitransitive, Figuratively To claw at; to scrape, to scratch; followed by away: to erase, to obliterate.
The cat’s sharp claws raked the side of my face.
Pas could not stay, but over him did rake, / And crown'd the earth with his first touching crowne: [...]c. 1580 (date written), Philip Sidney, “(please specify the folio)”, in [Mary Sidney], editor, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia […] [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1593, →OCLC:
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Like clouds that rake the mountain-summits, / Or waves that own no curbing hand, / How fast has brother followed brother, / From sunshine to the sunless land!1835 November 30 (date written), William Wordsworth, “Extempore Effusion upon the Death of James Hogg”, in Henry [Hope] Reed, editor, The Complete Poetical Works of William Wordsworth, Philadelphia, Pa.: Hayes & Zell, […], published 1860, →OCLC, page 286, column 2:
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Ambitransitive, Figuratively Followed by up: to bring up or uncover (something), as embarrassing information, past misdeeds, etc.
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Ambitransitive, Figuratively To search through (thoroughly).
[...] I have added to both of them [language and poetry] in the choice of Words, and Harmony of Numbers which were wanting, [...] One is for raking in [Geoffrey] Chaucer (our Engliſh Ennius) for antiquated Words, which are never to be reviv'd, but when Sound or Significancy is wanting in the preſent Language.1697, Virgil, “Postscript to the Reader”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 621:
The statesman rakes the town to find a plot, / And dreams of forfeitures by treason got.1724, Jonathan Swift, “On Dreams. An Imitation of Petronius.”, in Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, editors, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, […], new edition, volume VII, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1801, →OCLC, page 271:
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Jack's gaze raked the room, searching for some indication that something was wrong, that someone was going to suddenly spring forward and grab her.2003 March, Karyn Monk, The Wedding Escape, New York, N.Y.: Bantam Books, →ISBN, page 96:
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Also, Ambitransitive, Figuratively To move (a beam of light, a glance with the eyes, etc.) across (something) with a long side-to-side motion; specifically (often military) to use a weapon to fire at (something) with a side-to-side motion; to spray with gunfire.
The enemy machine guns raked the roadway.
George took the glass again and raked the vessel. "How she does pitch!" he said.1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC:
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Armor-piercing shells were heading up the shell hoists, but this procedure took a few minutes, allowing the battered American flagship to reply in kind, the gunners somewhat motivated to set new records for the rate of fire as the cruiser raked the larger ship from stem to stern in response.2021 March 10, Drachinifel, 17:51 from the start, in Guadalcanal Campaign - The Big Night Battle: Night 1 (IJN 3(?) : 2 USN), archived from the original on 17 Oct 2022:
› To act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake. › To move (a beam of light, a glance with the…
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Government, Military, Nautical, Politics, Transport, WarAlso, Ambitransitive, Figuratively To fire upon an enemy vessel from a position in line with its bow or stern, causing one's fire to travel through the length of the enemy vessel for maximum damage.
The verb is partly derived from rake (“tool with a row of pointed teeth”) (see etymology 1) and from Middle English raken (“to rake; to gather by raking; to rake away (debris); to cover with something; (figurative) to conceal, hide; to destroy”) [and other forms], from Old Norse raka (“to scrape”), from Proto-Germanic *raką, probably ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- (“to straighten, right oneself”). Cognates The English word is cognate with Middle Dutch rāken (modern Dutch raken (“to rake”) (regional)), Middle Low German rāken, Old Danish raghæ, rakæ (modern Danish rage (“to shave”)), Old Swedish raka (modern Swedish raka (“to rake; to shave”)). The noun is derived from the verb.
1
The act of raking.
› Something that is raked.
2
A share of profits, takings, etc., especially if obtained illegally; specifically (gambling) the scaled commission fee taken by a cardroom operating a poker game.
The verb is derived from Middle English raken (“to go, proceed; to move quickly, hasten, rush; to roam, wander”) [and other forms], from Old English racian (“to go forward, move, run; to hasten; to take a course or direction; to control, direct, govern, rule”), from Proto-West Germanic *rakōn (“to take a course or direction; to run”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- (“to straighten; to direct oneself”). Cognates The English word is cognate with Middle Dutch rāken (“to acquire; to hit (not miss); to reach; to touch”) (modern Dutch raken (“to hit (not miss); to touch; to become”)), Middle Low German rāken, rōken (“to hit (not miss); to reach; to touch”), Old High German rahhōn (“to narrate, speak”), and probably Swedish raka (“to rush off”). The noun is derived from the verb.
Falconry, Hobbies, Hunting, Lifestyle Of a bird of prey: to fly after a quarry; also, to fly away from the falconer, to go wide of the quarry being pursued.
rake
noun
Etymology
From Middle English rake, rakke (“pass, path, track; type of fencing thrust; pasture land (?)”), and then partly: * probably from Old English racu (“bed of a stream; path; account, narrative; explanation; argument, reasoning; reason”) (compare Old English hrace, hraca, hracu (“gorge”)), from Proto-Germanic *rakō (“path, track; course, direction; an unfolding, unwinding; account, narrative; argument, reasoning”) [and other forms], from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- (“to straighten, right oneself”); and * from Old Norse rák (“strip; stripe; furrow; small mountain ravine”), further etymology uncertain but probably ultimately from Proto-Germanic *rakō, as above. Cognates The English word is cognate with Icelandic rák (“streak, stripe; notch in a rock; vein in stone or wood”), Norwegian råk (“channel (in ice); cow path; trail”), Norwegian Nynorsk råk (“channel (in ice); cow path; trail; furrow; stripe”), Swedish råk (“crack or channel in ice; river valley”); and probably cognate with Old Danish rag (modern Danish rag (“stiff; taut”) (regional)), Old Norse rakr (“straight”), Swedish rak (“straight”).
Business, Mining A fissure or mineral vein of ore traversing the strata vertically, or nearly so.
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Scotland, UK A series, a succession; specifically (rail transport) a set of coupled rail vehicles, normally coaches or wagons.
The train was formed of a locomotive and a rake of six coaches.
On February 21 Class "O4/1" 2-8-0 No. 63635 passed through Manchester (Victoria) heading in the Rochdale direction with a rake of empty wagons.1959 April, “Motive Power Miscellany: London Midland Region”, in Trains Illustrated, London: Ian Allan Publishing, →OCLC, page 222:
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Midlands, Northern England, Alternative Alternative spelling of raik (“a course, a way; pastureland over which animals graze; a journey to transport something between two places; a run; also, the quantity of items so transported”).
rake
verb
Etymology
The origin of the verb is uncertain. The noun is probably derived from the verb. possibly related terms * German ragen (“to rise up out of; to jut or stick out”), from Middle High German ragen (compare Middle Dutch rāgen, Middle Low German rāgen), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁erǵʰ- (“to go up, rise”); and * Middle Dutch rāken (“to acquire; to hit (not miss); to reach; to touch”) (modern Dutch raken (“to hit (not miss); to touch; to become”)), Middle Low German rāken, rōken (“to hit (not miss); to reach; to touch”), from Proto-Germanic *rakōną (“to take a course or direction; to run”) (see further at etymology 4).
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Ambitransitive To incline (something) from a perpendicular direction.
A mast rakes aft.
› Senses relating to watercraft.
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Nautical, Transport To provide (the bow or stern of a watercraft) with a rake (“a slant that causes it to extend beyond the keel”).
The verb is derived from Middle English raken (“to go, proceed; to move quickly, hasten, rush; to roam, wander”) [and other forms], from Old English racian (“to go forward, move, run; to hasten; to take a course or direction; to control, direct, govern, rule”), from Proto-West Germanic *rakōn (“to take a course or direction; to run”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- (“to straighten; to direct oneself”). Cognates The English word is cognate with Middle Dutch rāken (“to acquire; to hit (not miss); to reach; to touch”) (modern Dutch raken (“to hit (not miss); to touch; to become”)), Middle Low German rāken, rōken (“to hit (not miss); to reach; to touch”), Old High German rahhōn (“to narrate, speak”), and probably Swedish raka (“to rush off”). The noun is derived from the verb.
Etymology The noun is a clipping of rakehell (“(archaic) lewd or wanton person, debauchee, rake”), from to rake (out) hell (“to search through hell thoroughly”), in the sense of a person so evil or immoral that they cannot be found in hell even after an extensive search: see rake (“to search through (thoroughly)”). The verb is derived from the noun.
1
Dated, Rare To behave as a rake; to lead a hedonistic and immoral life.
When women hid their necks , and veil'd their faces , Nor romp'd , nor raked , nor stared at public places1758, William Shenstone, Epilogue to Cleone:
rake
noun
Etymology
The origin of the verb is uncertain. The noun is probably derived from the verb. possibly related terms * German ragen (“to rise up out of; to jut or stick out”), from Middle High German ragen (compare Middle Dutch rāgen, Middle Low German rāgen), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁erǵʰ- (“to go up, rise”); and * Middle Dutch rāken (“to acquire; to hit (not miss); to reach; to touch”) (modern Dutch raken (“to hit (not miss); to touch; to become”)), Middle Low German rāken, rōken (“to hit (not miss); to reach; to touch”), from Proto-Germanic *rakōną (“to take a course or direction; to run”) (see further at etymology 4).
1
A divergence from the horizontal or perpendicular; a slant, a slope.
2
Specifically In full, angle of rake or rake angle: the angle between the edge or face of a tool (especially a cutting tool) and a plane (usually one perpendicular to the object that the tool is being applied to).
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Geography, Geology, Natural sciences The direction of slip during the movement of a fault, measured within the fault plane.
› Senses relating to watercraft.
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Nautical, Transport A slant that causes the bow or stern of a watercraft to extend beyond the keel; also, the upper part of the bow or stern that extends beyond the keel.
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Nautical, Transport A slant of some other part of a watercraft (such as a funnel or mast) away from the perpendicular, usually towards the stern.
Etymology The noun is a clipping of rakehell (“(archaic) lewd or wanton person, debauchee, rake”), from to rake (out) hell (“to search through hell thoroughly”), in the sense of a person so evil or immoral that they cannot be found in hell even after an extensive search: see rake (“to search through (thoroughly)”). The verb is derived from the noun.
1
A person (usually a man) who is stylish but habituated to hedonistic and immoral conduct.
We have now and then rakes in the habit of Roman senators, and grave politicians in the dress of rakes. The misfortune of the thing is, that people dress themselves in what they have a mind to be, and not what they are fit for.1711 March 26 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “THURSDAY, March 16, 1710–1711”, in The Spectator, number 14; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume I, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 151:
For honest men delight will take, / To shew you favour for his sake, / Will flatter you; and Fool and Rake / Your steps pursue: / And of your Father's name will make / A snare for you.1807, William Wordsworth, “Address to the Sons of Burns after Visiting Their Father’s Grave, Aug. 14th, 1803”, in Poems, in Two Volumes, volume II, London: […] Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, […], →OCLC, stanza 3, page 30:
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"He was a big old rake, full of marks and scars, and he had only an ear and a half."1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 77:
I have no choice but to take up the foil once again and vanquish this rake.2009, The Onion, 2:27 from the start, in Bad Boy Fencing Star Implicated In Yet Another Jewel Heist, spoken by Reggie Greengrass (Beau Baxtor):
I am fully subscribed to the belief that reformed rakes make the very best of husbands.2020 December 25, Chris Van Dusen, “Diamond of the First Water”, in Bridgerton, season 1, episode 1, spoken by Violet Bridgerton: