I think wrack is related to wreck and wreak. Here's some examples from the OED:
For wrack (noun):
I.2.a. c1407– Damage, disaster, or injury to a person, state, etc., by reason of force, outrage, or violence; devastation, destruction. In very frequent use from c1580 to c1640.
1561 Loe, here..the wofull wracke And vtter ruine of this noble realme! T. Norton & T. Sackville, Gorboduc v. ii
And: wrack (verb)
1. 1470–1632 † intransitive. To suffer or undergo shipwreck. Obsolete.
1470–85 One told hym there was a knyghte of kyng Arthur þ[a]t had wrackyd on the rockes. -- T. Malory, Morte d'Arthur viii. xxxviii. 331
2. 1562– To wreck (a vessel, mariners, etc.); to ruin or cast ashore by shipwreck. Chiefly passive and in figurative context.
3.a. 1564– To cause the ruin, downfall, or subversion of (a person, etc.); to ruin, overthrow. Also reflexive.
How pleasing.
ReplyDeleteI think wrack is related to wreck and wreak. Here's some examples from the OED:
ReplyDeleteFor wrack (noun):
I.2.a.
c1407–
Damage, disaster, or injury to a person, state, etc., by reason of force, outrage, or violence; devastation, destruction.
In very frequent use from c1580 to c1640.
1561
Loe, here..the wofull wracke And vtter ruine of this noble realme!
T. Norton & T. Sackville, Gorboduc v. ii
And: wrack (verb)
1.
1470–1632
† intransitive. To suffer or undergo shipwreck. Obsolete.
1470–85
One told hym there was a knyghte of kyng Arthur þ[a]t had wrackyd on the rockes. -- T. Malory, Morte d'Arthur viii. xxxviii. 331
2.
1562–
To wreck (a vessel, mariners, etc.); to ruin or cast ashore by shipwreck. Chiefly passive and in figurative context.
3.a.
1564–
To cause the ruin, downfall, or subversion of (a person, etc.); to ruin, overthrow. Also reflexive.