Английский Этимологический словарь - race (1)

- "contest of speed," 13c., from O.N. ras "running, rush," cognate with O.E. rжs, which became M.E. resen "attack, incursion," but did not survive into Mod.Eng. Both O.N. and O.E. are from P.Gmc. *rжs-. Meaning "contest of speed" first recorded 1513 (the verb in this sense is from 1672). Race-horse is from 1626. Meaning "strong current of water" is from 1375, possibly influenced by O.Fr. raz, which had a similar meaning.