subs. (Winchester).—1. A chop from the neck or loin. [RACK (HALLIWELL) = the neck of mutton or pork; (JOHNSON) = a neck of mutton cut for the table.]
2. (slaughterers’).—See quot.
1851. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, i. 189. The bones (called RACKS by the knackers) are chopped up and boiled.
PHRASES.—TO LIVE AT RACK AND MANGER = to live on the best gratis: TO LIE AT RACK AND MANGER = (1) ‘to live hard’ (B. E., c. 1696), and (2) ‘to be in great disorder’ (GROSE, 1785); TO GO TO RACK AND RUIN = to go utterly wrong; ON THE RACK = (1) in a state of tension, and (2) on the move, SHINNING ROUND (American spec. for money); TO RACK OFF = (1) to relate, to tell, and (2) TO PISS (q.v.).
1586–1606. WARNER, Albion’s England, viii. 4, 200. A queane corrival with a queene! Nay KEPT AT RACK AND MANGER.
1599. NASHE, Lenten Stuffe [Harleian Miscellany, vi. 165]. The herring is such a choleric food that whoso ties himself TO RACK AND MANGER to it shall have a child that will be a soldier before he loses his first teeth.
1605. CHAPMAN, All Fools [REED, Old Plays (1780), iv. 136].
| TO LIE AT RACK AND MANGER with your wedlock | |
| And brother. |
1628. Robin Good-fellow [HALLIWELL].
| When Vertue was a country maide, | |
| And had no skill to set up trade, | |
| She came up with a carriers jade, | |
| And lay AT RACKE AND MANGER. |
1665. PEPYS, Diary 9 Sept. We fell to talk largely of the want of some persons understanding to look after businesses, but all GOES TO RACK.
1690. The Pagan Prince [NARES]. The Palatine … LAY AT RACK AND MANGER.
1700. CONGREVE, The Way of the World, ii. 1. I wou’d have him ever to continue UPON THE RACK of Feare and Jealousy.
1722. STEELE, The Conscious Lovers, iv. 2. Hand and heart are ON THE RACK about my son.
1749. SMOLLETT, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 197. I wrote down in my pocket-book such anecdotes as I meant to RACK OFF in the course of the day.
1843. CARLYLE, Past and Present, II. i. A blustering, dissipated human figure … tearing out the bowels of St. Edmundsbury Convent … in the most ruinous way by LIVING AT RACK AND MANGER there.
