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”)).
Meanings
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:
(broadly) A similarly shaped tool used for other purposes. ▸ A tool with a straight edge at the end used by a croupier to move chips or money across a gaming table.
(broadly) A similarly shaped tool used for other purposes. ▸ 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.
A type of puffer train that leaves behind a stream of spaceships as it moves.
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):
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):
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:
(collective) A group of mules.
making the total payload of a typical rake of mules about 20 times greater than that of even the strongest flameme. 2003, Mexico and the United States: Politics, local - Zoot suit riots, Marshall Cavendish, page 830:
But not to trouble the reader with a farther account of the particulars of this melancholy part of our journey; I shall only fay, that with infinite toil and danger, and by the assistance of God Almighty, we overcame all difficulty, and at last got clear of the dismal and inhofpitable mountains of Nicaragua, and paffed by the fide of a favanna, on a rifing ground, where two rakes of mules were grazing. 1794, John Cockburn, The Unfortunate Englishmen: or, a Faithful narrative of the distresses and adventures of John Cockburn, and five other English mariners ..., Hamilton & Company, page 69:
Plus, his ever-increasing rake of mules were outgrowing the small parcel of acreage he had inherited in Tennessee. 2020, Barbara L. Wyckoff, Who Was Victoria Silkee:
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.
Meanings
The act of raking.
Something that is raked. ▸ A share of profits, takings, etc., especially if obtained illegally; specifically (gambling) the scaled commission fee taken by a cardroom operating a poker game.
(Ireland, Scotland, slang) Something that is raked. ▸ A lot, plenty.
Jim has had a rake of trouble with his new car.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
rakes
Number=Plur
lexicographic
Translations (5)
fi osuus (share of profits, etc., especially if obtained illegally) · cs hrabání (act of raking) · fi palkkio (scaled commission fee taken by a cardroom operating a poker game) · cs hrabanka (something that is raked) · fi haravointi (act of raking)
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.
Meanings
To act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake.
We raked all the leaves into a pile.
She is raking the gravel path to keep it even.
(also, figuratively, transitive) To act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake. ▸ 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.
(transitive) To act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake. ▸ Often followed by an adverb or preposition such as away, off, out, etc.: to drag or pull in a certain direction.
(ambitransitive, figuratively) To act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake. ▸ To claw at; to scrape, to scratch; followed by away: to erase, to obliterate.
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:
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:
The cat’s sharp claws raked the side of my face.
(ambitransitive, figuratively) To act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake. ▸ Followed by up: to bring up or uncover (something), as embarrassing information, past misdeeds, etc.
(ambitransitive, figuratively) To act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake. ▸ 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:
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:
(also, ambitransitive, figuratively) To act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake. ▸ 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.
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:
The enemy machine guns raked the roadway.
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:
(also, ambitransitive, figuratively) To act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake. ▸ 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. ▸ 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.
(Ireland, Northern-England, Scotland, also, figuratively, transitive) To act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake. ▸ To cover (something) by or as if by raking things over it.
To act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake. ▸ To pick (a lock) with a rake.
de durchkämmen (to search through (thoroughly)) · sv raka (to search through (thoroughly)) · sv finkamma (to search through (thoroughly)) · lld restlé (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · pl ostrzeliwać (to use a weapon to fire at (something) with a side-to-side motion) · fi raahata (to drag or pull in a certain direction) · pt varrer (to search through (thoroughly)) · fi haravoida (to search through (thoroughly)) · sv peppra (to use a weapon to fire at (something) with a side-to-side motion) · ar قذائف مكثفَة (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · fi koluta (to search through (thoroughly)) · it rastrellare (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · es rastrillar (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · fr fouiller (to search through (thoroughly)) · ro grebla (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · izh haravoija (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · it rastrellare (to search through (thoroughly)) · sl grabiti (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · fi liikuttaa edestakaisin (to move across (something) with a long side-to-side motion) · ar يسرح الشعر\الحشائش (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · mi rakaraka (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · gl buscar (to search through (thoroughly)) · lt grėbti (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · ru сгребать (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · ko 갈퀴다 (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · sv kratta (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · mi rakuraku (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · hu kutat (to search through (thoroughly)) · fr passer au peigne fin (to search through (thoroughly)) · el τσουγκρανίζω (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · nl rakelen (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · as লোৰোক (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · it mitragliare (to use a weapon to fire at (something) with a side-to-side motion) · pl grabić (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · pl zgrabić (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · eo rasti (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · fi käydä läpi (to search through (thoroughly)) · fi vetää (to drag or pull in a certain direction) · fr arroser (to use a weapon to fire at (something) with a side-to-side motion) · sv raka (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · bg събирам с гребло (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · ka მოფოცხვა (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · fi paljastaa (to bring up or uncover (something)) · ota طرامق (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · fr ratisser (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · ru собирать (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · fi tuoda ilmi (to bring up or uncover (something)) · cs hrabat (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · cmn 耙 (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · gl angazar (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · fi raapia (to claw at; to scrape, to scratch — see also scrape, scratch) · it ispezionare (to search through (thoroughly)) · pl zgarniać (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · hu gereblyéz (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · nl gritselen (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · gl anciñar (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · fi tulittaa edestakaisin (to use a weapon to fire at (something) with a side-to-side motion) · sv rafsa (to search through (thoroughly)) · bg ровя се (to search through (thoroughly)) · fi syynätä tarkkaan (to search through (thoroughly)) · lv grābt (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · ar يجمع الحشائش (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · pt rastelar (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · fi pippuroida (to use a weapon to fire at (something) with a side-to-side motion) · de harken (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · ltg kast (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · hu összegereblyéz (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · ota طرمیقلامق (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · fi haravoida (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · sv räfsa (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · vi bừa (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · za rauq (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · hu átkutat (to search through (thoroughly)) · et rehitsema (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · sah харбаа (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · nl harken (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · pl przeczesywać (to search through (thoroughly)) · tyz bóp (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · hu átfésül (to search through (thoroughly)) · ru прочёсывать (to search through (thoroughly)) · ca rampinar (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · ko 훑다 (to search through (thoroughly)) · ru прочеса́ть (to search through (thoroughly)) · nl uitkammen (to search through (thoroughly)) · de rechen (to act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake) · fi kulkea edestakaisin (to move across (something) with a long side-to-side motion)
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”).
Meanings
(Northern-England, also, figuratively) A course, a path, especially a narrow and steep path or route up a hillside.
A fissure or mineral vein of ore traversing the strata vertically, or nearly so.
(Scotland, UK) A series, a succession; specifically (rail transport) a set of coupled rail vehicles, normally coaches or wagons.
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:
The train was formed of a locomotive and a rake of six coaches.
(Midlands, Northern-England, alt-of, 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”).
fi jono (set of coupled rail vehicles) · mk па́тека (narrow and steep path or route up a hillside) · bg композиция (set of coupled rail vehicles) · fi polku (narrow and steep path or route up a hillside) · fr rame (set of coupled rail vehicles) · fi tehdas (puffer that emits a stream of spaceships) · sv vagnsätt (set of coupled rail vehicles) · de Wagenzug (set of coupled rail vehicles) · hu szerelvény (set of coupled rail vehicles) · pl skład (set of coupled rail vehicles) · it convoglio (set of coupled rail vehicles)
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”).
Meanings
(alt-of, alternative) Alternative spelling of raik (“(intransitive, Midlands, Northern England, Scotland) to walk; to roam, to wander; of animals (especially sheep): to graze; (transitive, chiefly Scotland) to roam or wander through (somewhere)”)
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.
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.
Meanings
(Midlands, Northern-England, Scotland, intransitive) To move swiftly; to proceed rapidly.
(intransitive) 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.
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).
Meanings
A divergence from the horizontal or perpendicular; a slant, a slope.
(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).
The direction of slip during the movement of a fault, measured within the fault plane.
Senses relating to watercraft. ▸ 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.
Senses relating to watercraft. ▸ A slant of some other part of a watercraft (such as a funnel or mast) away from the perpendicular, usually towards the stern.
The sloped edge of a roof at or adjacent to the first or last rafter.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
rakes
Number=Plur
lexicographic
Translations (18)
ru наклон (divergence from the horizontal or perpendicular — see also slant, slope) · bg наклон (divergence from the horizontal or perpendicular — see also slant, slope) · fi siirroksen suunta ((geology) direction of slip) · fr angle de chasse (rake angle — see also rake angle) · it bordo spiovente (sloped edge of a roof) · fi pääty (sloped edge of a roof) · fr dépouille (rake angle — see also rake angle) · fi kallistuma (divergence from the horizontal or perpendicular — see also slant, slope) · mk на́клон (divergence from the horizontal or perpendicular — see also slant, slope) · hu dőlésszög (divergence from the horizontal or perpendicular — see also slant, slope) · et kalle ((geology) direction of slip) · ru уклон (divergence from the horizontal or perpendicular — see also slant, slope) · fi kallistus (slant of some other part of a watercraft away from the perpendicular) · hu dőlés (divergence from the horizontal or perpendicular — see also slant, slope) · fi kaltevuus (divergence from the horizontal or perpendicular — see also slant, slope) · fi kaltevuus (slant that causes the bow or stern of a watercraft to extend beyond the keel) · la inclinatitas (divergence from the horizontal or perpendicular — see also slant, slope) · fi työstökulma (rake angle — see also rake angle)
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).
Meanings
(ambitransitive) To incline (something) from a perpendicular direction.
A mast rakes aft.
(transitive) Senses relating to watercraft. ▸ To provide (the bow or stern of a watercraft) with a rake (“a slant that causes it to extend beyond the keel”).
(intransitive, rare) Senses relating to watercraft. ▸ Of a watercraft: to have a rake at its bow or stern.
bg наклонявам (to incline (something) from a perpendicular direction) · hu dől (to incline (something) from a perpendicular direction) · la inclino (to incline (something) from a perpendicular direction) · fi kallistaa (to provide (the bow or stern of a watercraft) with a rake) · fi kallistua (to incline (something) from a perpendicular direction) · ru наклонить (to incline (something) from a perpendicular direction) · hu lejt (to incline (something) from a perpendicular direction) · ru отклонить (to incline (something) from a perpendicular direction) · fi kallistaa (to incline (something) from a perpendicular direction)
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.
Meanings
A person (usually a man) who is stylish but habituated to hedonistic and immoral conduct.
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):
"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 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:
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:
de Lebemann (person who is stylish but habituated to hedonistic and immoral conduct) · nl losbol (person who is stylish but habituated to hedonistic and immoral conduct) · fi pelimies (person who is stylish but habituated to hedonistic and immoral conduct) · la asōtus (person who is stylish but habituated to hedonistic and immoral conduct) · vi kẻ/người phóng đãng (person who is stylish but habituated to hedonistic and immoral conduct) · it scapestrato (person who is stylish but habituated to hedonistic and immoral conduct) · da fusentast (person who is stylish but habituated to hedonistic and immoral conduct) · mk ра́звратник (person who is stylish but habituated to hedonistic and immoral conduct) · it dissoluto (person who is stylish but habituated to hedonistic and immoral conduct) · es calavera (person who is stylish but habituated to hedonistic and immoral conduct) · hu kujon (person who is stylish but habituated to hedonistic and immoral conduct) · bg донжуан (person who is stylish but habituated to hedonistic and immoral conduct) · de Windhund (person who is stylish but habituated to hedonistic and immoral conduct) · it sciagurato (person who is stylish but habituated to hedonistic and immoral conduct) · bg женкар (person who is stylish but habituated to hedonistic and immoral conduct) · hu élvhajhász (person who is stylish but habituated to hedonistic and immoral conduct) · it buono a nulla (person who is stylish but habituated to hedonistic and immoral conduct) · fr fumiste (person who is stylish but habituated to hedonistic and immoral conduct) · fi elostelija (person who is stylish but habituated to hedonistic and immoral conduct) · pt libertino (person who is stylish but habituated to hedonistic and immoral conduct)
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.
Meanings
(dated, intransitive, 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 places 1758, William Shenstone, Epilogue to Cleone: