DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 man·gle, n.  A machine for smoothing linen or cotton cloth, as sheets, tablecloths, napkins, and clothing, by roller pressure, often with heated rollers.
 Mangle rack Mach., a contrivance for converting continuous circular motion into reciprocating rectilinear motion, by means of a rack and pinion, as in the mangle. The pinion is held to the rack by a groove in such a manner that it passes alternately from one side of the rack to the other, and thus gives motion to it in opposite directions, according to the side in which its teeth are engaged.
 Mangle wheel, a wheel in which the teeth, or pins, on its face, are interrupted on one side, and the pinion, working in them, passes from inside to outside of the teeth alternately, thus converting the continuous circular motion of the pinion into a reciprocating circular motion of the wheel.
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 Rack, n.
 1. An instrument or frame used for stretching, extending, retaining, or displaying, something. Specifically: (a) An engine of torture, consisting of a large frame, upon which the body was gradually stretched until, sometimes, the joints were dislocated; -- formerly used judicially for extorting confessions from criminals or suspected persons.
    During the troubles of the fifteenth century, a rack was introduced into the Tower, and was occasionally used under the plea of political necessity.   --Macaulay.
 (b) An instrument for bending a bow. (c) A grate on which bacon is laid. (d) A frame or device of various construction for holding, and preventing the waste of, hay, grain, etc., supplied to beasts. (e) A frame on which articles are deposited for keeping or arranged for display; as, a clothes rack; a bottle rack, etc. (f) Naut. A piece or frame of wood, having several sheaves, through which the running rigging passes; -- called also rack block. Also, a frame to hold shot. (g) Mining A frame or table on which ores are separated or washed. (h) A frame fitted to a wagon for carrying hay, straw, or grain on the stalk, or other bulky loads. (i) A distaff.
 2. Mech. A bar with teeth on its face, or edge, to work with those of a wheel, pinion, or worm, which is to drive it or be driven by it.
 3. That which is extorted; exaction. [Obs.]
 Mangle rack. Mach. See under Mangle. n.
 Rack block. Naut. See def. 1 (f), above.
 Rack lashing, a lashing or binding where the rope is tightened, and held tight by the use of a small stick of wood twisted around.
 Rack rail Railroads, a toothed rack, laid as a rail, to afford a hold for teeth on the driving wheel of a locomotive for climbing steep gradients, as in ascending a mountain.
 Rack saw, a saw having wide teeth.
 Rack stick, the stick used in a rack lashing.
 To be on the rack, to suffer torture, physical or mental.
 To live at rack and manger, to live on the best at another's expense. [Colloq.]
 To put to the rack, to subject to torture; to torment.
    A fit of the stone puts a king to the rack, and makes him as miserable as it does the meanest subject.   --Sir W. Temple.