rake-hell, n. Now arch.
(ˈreɪkhɛl)
Also 6 rack-. See also rakel.
[See rake v.1 6 c.]
1. A thorough scoundrel or rascal; an utterly immoral or dissolute person; a vile debauchee or rake. (In common use c 1550–1725.)
| 1554 Bale Declaration (1561) Pref. A j b, After the mischeuous example of Cain, and the other rake hels. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 315 Momish Monckes, flatteryng Fryers, and others such lyke Religious Rackhells. 1603 H. Crosse Vertues Commw. (1878) 87 Al the rake-hels and loose vagabonds in a countrey. 1690 J. Mackenzie Siege London-Derry 2/1 These Rake-hells (who were the very scum of the Countrey). 1766 Anstey New Bath Guide (1776) 131 Brother Simkin's grown a rakehell, Cards and dances ev'ry day. 1870 Thornbury Tour Eng. I. ii. 43 The wild son of a baronet, a rake-hell who had been brought up at Eton. |
† b. Applied to a place.
Obs. rare—1.
| 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 17 b, Rome..is the most filthy sinke of al the places in the Uniuersall worlde, and a rakehell heaped of all mischief [L. inexhausta colluvies]. |
2. attrib. or as adj. = rakehelly 1.
| 1556 Olde Antichrist 186 Most filthie rakehell masse priestes. 1596 Spenser F.Q. v. xi. 44 Amid their rakehell bands, They spide a Lady. 1682 Sec. Plea Nonconf. 28 A reviling sort of Rake-hell Scriblers. 1782 Cowper Progr. Err. 314 Some lewd earl, or rakehell baronet. |
| transf. 1895 Crockett Cleg Kelly xvi, [A] rake-hell cat skirmishing across from area-railing to area-railing. |
† b. of things.
= rakehelly 2.
Obs. rare.
| a 1547 Surrey in Tottell's Misc. (Arb.) 11 The rakehell lyfe that longes to loues disporte. 1589 Pappe w. Hatchet B ij, If Martin haue not barrelde vp all rakehell words. |
Hence
ˈrakeˌhellish a. = rakehelly;
† rakeheˈllonian, one of the ‘sect’ of rakehells.
| a 1704 T. Brown Wks. (1730) II. 313, I have been..admitted into the family of the rakehellonians. 1824 New Monthly Mag. XI. 240 Not to be in bed before midnight was..esteemed a rakehellish practice. |