rackle, a. Obs. exc. Sc. and north. dial.
(ˈræk(ə)l)
Forms: 4–5 rakel, -il, 4–6 -yl, (5 -yll), racle, 6 ra(c)kle, Sc. rakill, 7 rackel, 8 raucle, 9 rackle, rau(c)kle.
[Of obscure origin.]
Hasty, rash, impetuous, headstrong; rough or coarse in action; also Sc. possessed of rude strength, vigorous at an advanced age. a. of persons:
| a 1300 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1875) 37 To rakele þo þei were, ȝware fore þo huy fullen þere. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. C. 526 He þat is to rakel to renden his cloþez, Mot efte sitte with more vnsounde to sewe hem togeder. c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 30 To wyving be thou nat racle. 1433 ― St. Edmund ii. 512 The kyng, nat rakel, but of hih prudence. 1570 Levins Manip. 129/8 Rakyl, insolens. c 1670 Poor Man's Cup in G. Hickes Spirit of Popery (1680) 10 Samson was a Rackel and Rough-handed Saint, ready to Pelt the Philistines on all occasions. 1785 Burns Jolly Beggars 4th Recit., Then niest outspak a raucle carlin. 1826 T. Wilson Pitman's Pay i. lxvi, Te guide a rackle ram-stam wife. 1876 Waugh Hermit Cobbler (Lancash. dial.) 29 Is there ony news o' that rackle (reckless) brother o' thine? |
b. of things, actions, feelings, etc.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iii. 380 (429) Eche rakil dede, and eche unbridelid chere. c 1386 ― Manciple's T. 185 A thousand folk hath rakel Ire Fully fordoon. Ibid. 235 Wostow wherof a rakel tonge serueth. 1406 Hoccleve La Male Regle 83 His rakil wit only to him souffysith. c 1550 R. Bieston Bayte Fortune A ij, Thy tounge is racle, thy wit is rechles. 1786 Burns Earnest Cry & Prayer xxii, Auld Scotland has a raucle tongue. |
| Comb. 1715 Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 39, I suspect this will be a very rackle-handed committee. |
? Hence
† rackle v. intr., to act rashly or roughly.
Obs. rare—1.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iii. 1593 (1642), I nil not rakle as for to greven here. |