Английский Этимологический словарь - rack (1)

- "frame with bars," c.1300, possibly from M.Du. rec "framework," related to recken "stretch out," cognate with O.E. reccan "to stretch out," from P.Gmc. *rakjanan. Meaning "instrument of torture" first recorded 1425; figurative sense of "agony" is from 1591. The verb meaning "to sleep" is teen-ager slang from 1960s. Rack up "register accumulate, achieve" is 1960s, probably from pool.