Where does “off-the-rack” come from?
off-the-rack (English) comes from English rack, from Old English reċċan, from Proto-West Germanic rakkjan, from Proto-Germanic rakjaną, from Proto-Indo-European h₃roǵéyeti, from Proto-Indo-European -éyeti, from Proto-Indo-European -yeti — Creates transitive imperfective verbs from roots.
off-the-rack (English): ready-made in a range of standard sizes
Definitions
- ready-made in a range of standard sizes
Ancestry of “off-the-rack”, step by step
off-the-rack traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English rack
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | rack | A series of one or more shelves, stacked one... |
| 2 | Old English | reċċan | to stretch, extend; to stretch out, extend |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | rakkjan | to stretch, to straighten |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | rakjaną | to stretch, to straighten |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃roǵéyeti | to straighten, to make straight, to cause to be... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | -éyeti | Forms causative imperfective verbs from roots;... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -yeti | Creates transitive imperfective verbs from roots |