rachiodantidæ

pl. [Mod. Lat. rachio don (gen it. rachiodontis ); Lat. fem. pl. adj. suff. -idæ.] Zool .: A family of Colubriform Snakes, of doubtful affinities, from South and West Africa, with a single genus Rachiodon (q. v.). ra-chis, s. [Gr.=the spine or backbone.] 1. Botany: (1) The axis of inflorescence; a peduncle proceed ing nearly in a right line from the base to the apex of the inflorescence. ( Lindley.) (2) ( Of Composites ): A receptacle, not fleshy, surrounded by an involucre. ( Le ing .) (3) The caudex of an acotyledonous plant. 2. Comparative Anatomy: +(1) The spine, either of man or of the lower vertebrates. (2) The central portion of an odontophore. ra-chit-ic, a . [RACHITIS.] Of or pertaining to rachitis; rickety. ra-chi-tis, s. [Eng., ., rach (is); -it is.] 1. Pathol.: [RICKETS.] 2. Veg. Path.: Abortion of the fruit or seed. rā-chi-tôme, s. [Eng., ., rachis , and Greek tome a cutting.] Surg : A post-mortem or di ecting instrument for opening the spinal canal. rā-çi-al, adj . [Eng. rac ( e ) (1), s.; -ial .] Of or pertaining to race, family, or descent; of or pertaining to the races of mankind; ethnological. rā-çi-lý, adv. [English racy; -ly.] In a racy IMG:content-0154.png:[blocks in formation] racemovinic-acid, s . [RACEMIC-ETHER.] răç-ě-mūle, subst . [ Eng.racem ( e ); dim in. suff. is stretched out or straight, from rack , v.: cf. Ger. IMG:content-0155.png:[blocks in formation] rack a rail, a bar, a framework; Prov. Ger. rock = a scaffold; reckbank a rack for torture; recke =a stretcher; Low. Ger. rakka shelf, as in Eng. plate rack .] IMG:content-0156.png:[blocks in formation] (6) An apparatus for the judicial torture of criminals or suspected persons. It consisted of a large, open, wooden frame, within which the person to be tortured was laid on his back on the floor, with his wrists and ankles fastened by cords to two rollers at the ends of the frame. These rollers were then drawn or moved in opposite directions until the body rose to a level with the frame. Interrogations were then put, and if the prisoner refused to answer, or if his answers were not considered satisfactory, the rollers were further moved, until at last the bones of the sufferer were forced from their sockets. The rack was formerly much used in Europe by the civil authorities in the cases of traitors or conspirators, and by the officers of the Inquisition to force a recantation of heretical or so-called heretical opinions. (2) An open framework or grating; as(a) A grating on which bacon is laid. (b) A framework on or in which articles are laid or arranged; as, a plate - rack , a bottle - rack , a hat rack, . (c) A frame of open-work to hold hay or other food for cattle, horses, or sheep. "Unyoke the steed, his racks heap high with hay." Grainger: Tibullus, ii. 1. (d) A frame to carry hay or grain, placed on wheels, for hauling in the harvest. *2. Figuratively : (1) That which is extorted; an extortion, an exaction. [RACK-RENT.] "The great rents and racks would be unsupportable." Sandys : State of Religion , O. 2 b. (2) Torture; extreme pain or anguish; agony. "A fit of the stone puts a king to the rack."- Temple. II. Technically: 1. Gearing: A toothed bar whose pitch-line is straight, adapted to work into the teeth of a wheel [PINION, 8., II.], for the purpose of changing rectilinear into circular motion, or vice vers a . This contrivance is called a rack - and - pinion , and the motion so imparted rack - and - pinion motion. 2. Horol .: A steel piece in the striking part of a clock. It consists of a bar attached radially to an axis, and having a lower and an upper arm. The former is called the rack-tail (q. v.). The latter is indented with twelve notches, to effect the striking of the right number. 3. Lace : A certain length of lace-work counted perpendicularly, and containing 240 meshes. 4. Metall .: An inclined frame or table, open at the foot, and upon which metalliferous slimes are placed and exposed to a stream of water, which washes off the lighter portions. 5. Nautical : (1) A frame of wood with belaying-pins, or a row of blocks for fair-leaders, or a row of sheaves for reeving the running-rigging. (2) A frame with holes for round-shot. (3) A box in which the halyards are coiled away. (1) Rack - and - pinion : [RACK (2), 8., II. 1.] *(2) To live at rack and manger: To live of the best at free cost. ( Carlyle : Past and Present , bk. ii., ch. i.) rack-bar, s. Naut.: A billet of wood used to twist the bight of a rope, called a swifter, in order to bind a rope firmly together. rack-block, s. Naut .: A range of sheaves cut in one piece of wood for running ropes to lead through.