Less wrack, more rack
September 27th, 2008 at 07:00am Barry Wood
When you’re describing scenes of destruction, it’s tough to top “wrack and ruin.” However, use of the word “wrack” should be confined to this phrase. “Wrack” is “wreckage,” from its Middle Dutch ancestor “wrak,” meaning “a wreck, wrecked ship.”
For all other uses, “rack” is preferred: on the rack (from the old torture device), off-the-rack clothing, a spice rack, a rack of lamb, rack-and-opinion, rack ‘em up, nerve-racking, racked with pain, rack your brain and so on.
It doesn’t seem right for one version to have most of the fun, but that’s English.
Entry Filed under: homonyms
4 Comments Add your own
1. Jim O\'Neill | September 29th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Everyone loves more rack!
2. Lawrence Gregory Clarkson | September 29th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
I’d love more rack time, if that’s what you mean.
3. Barry Wood | October 7th, 2008 at 12:45 am
Actually, I was speaking only of use of the word. But I’m certainly in favor of more sack time — although I got my fill of hospital beds last week.
4. Barry Wood | October 7th, 2008 at 12:47 am
Well, maybe not “everyone.” About 50 percent of the population maybe?
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