As an etymology buff and lover of old garden tools, I’ve become fascinated by the rich history and evolving definitions of the word “rake.” From its Proto-Germanic roots to today’s slang connotations, “rake” has gathered some nuanced cultural symbolism over centuries of use. Let’s rake through its origins and meanings together!
Digging up the Etymological Roots
Language scholars have traced “rake” back to several early Proto-Germanic and Indo-European source words meaning “to gather up” or “to straighten.”
-
The Online Etymology Dictionary cites the Old English term “raca” or “ræce” as a likely origin. This described a “toothed tool for drawing or scraping things together.”
-
Further back, the Proto-Germanic “*rakō” referred to a “tool with a row of pointed teeth.” Based on similar words in Old Norse, Old High German, and Gothic, scholars reconstructed this ancient root.
-
Deepest of all, the Proto-Indo-European root “*h3reǵ-” meant “to straighten, right oneself.” This conceptual origin applied to gathering and ordering objects.
So in its oldest forms, “rake” referred to the teeth-like tines that could collect, accumulate, and straighten materials in a row. Rakes have served a practical raking, scraping, and smoothing function since antiquity.
In fact, rake-like tools date all the way back to the Neolithic period! Archaeological digs have uncovered ancient farming implements that resemble modern rakes. People have needed an efficient way to gather grains and debris for millennia.
The earliest known rakes had wooden or bone handles and sharp stone teeth. But the basic mechanical design mirrored modern metal-toothed rakes.
Raking Through Historical Texts
By the 13th century, the Middle English verb “raken” had emerged, specifically meaning “to clear or gather by raking.” English speakers recognized the rake’s purpose of collecting and accumulating materials.
In 1456, the Middle English term “rakel-bonys” appeared, referring to rake prongs made of bone. This early tool lent its name to the action of raking.
In the 1600s, the phrase “rakehell” arose, referring to a debauched, libertine man prone to vice and immorality. The Oxford English Dictionary cites an early example from 1610:
“Runing rake-helles that wil spend, conswme, and wast whole lordshippes and patrimonies.”
Calling someone a “rakehell” combined “rake” with “hell,” comparing their wild, sinful behavior to the devil’s. By the 1700s, this term was often shortened to just “rake” when referencing an immoral man.
For example, in 1749 Lord Chesterfield wrote:
“I have often endeavoured to dissuade you from running into the frightful excesses, and serious dangers of debauchery and licentiousness; to warn you against the company of rakes and women of fashion.”
So while retaining its gardening tool meaning, “rake” took on sexual connotations of a man who indiscriminately “raked” in female conquests. The metaphor was born.
Raking in Definitions through the Centuries
By studying definitions of “rake” across history, we can observe some shifts:
Samuel Johnson’s 1755 Dictionary of the English Language:
-
Rake (n.) – 1. An instrument with teeth and a long handle to gather hay, or clear the ground. 2. A loose, disorderly, vicious man; a man addicted to pleasure.
-
Rake (v.) – 1. To collect with a rake. 2. To search minutely.
Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language:
-
Rake (n.) – 1. An instrument with teeth, for collecting hay, or removing loose matter from the surface of the ground. 2. A loose, vile, profligate person; a debauchee, a roué.
-
Rake (v.) – 1. To collect with a rake; as, to rake hay; to rake grass. 2. To search minutely. 3. To scatter or range over.
Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd Edition (2010):
-
Rake (n.) – 1. An implement consisting of a pole set transversely at the end with a row of prongs, teeth, or tines, used esp. for drawing together cut grass, hay, or the like, and clearing the ground of light rubbish, leaves, etc. 2. fig. An immoral or dissolute person; a rakehell. slang. a man who is habituated to immoral conduct, a debauchee; usually one who is also prodigal, reckless, and heartless.
-
Rake (v.) – 1. trans. To collect (grass, hay, etc.) by dragging a rake over the ground; to clear (ground) of scattered grass, leaves, twigs, rubbish, etc. by this action. Also fig. 2. To rummage through, search, ransack. 3. To enfilade, fire upon (a target) with guns in line. 4. To obtain (money or some advantage) rapidly and in large quantities.
We can observe the figurative definition of a “debauched” or “dissolute” man appearing by the 1700s. And by the modern era, the financial and military slang senses of “raking in” money or fire took hold.
So while the practical gardening and gathering uses remained stable, the cultural symbolism of “rake” continued to shift over time.
Raking Through Literary and Cultural Examples
Examining literature and popular culture gives insight into the nuanced connotations of “rake” over the past three centuries:
The Rake as Dangerous Rogue
In Jane Austen’s Persuasion (1818), Austen writes:
“A rake, of course; but who would have supposed a man so very old could be guilty of such evil ways”
This paints the rake as almost predatory, abusing his charm at an advanced age.
Lord Byron’s 1819 poem Don Juan (1819) tells the story of a charming young man who continually seduces women. It inspired the modern “Don Juan” archetype of the rake who leaves behind heartbreak and outrage.
The Appealing Rake as Romantic Hero
In romance novels and period dramas, the rake evolved into a more appealing figure who is dangerous yet irresistible. For example:
- In Georgette Heyer‘s These Old Shades (1926), the Duke of Avon is a notorious rake who eventually reforms.
- In Gone With the Wind (1936), Rhett Butler‘s shocking yet attractive behavior brands him a rake.
- In Lisa Kleypas’s Devil in Winter (2006), the debauched Lord St. Vincent uses his rakish charms to win the heroine‘s affection.
Anti-Hero Rakes in Modern Media
- The Australian TV drama Rake (2010-2016) stars a self-destructive rakeish lawyer named Cleaver Greene who constantly battles inner demons and vice.
- In Shonda Rhimes’ Bridgerton (2020), Simon Basset is a troubled rake who becomes the Duke of Hastings. He has a mysterious romantic past and struggles to find love, despite his popularity with the ladies.
So while retaining its shock value, the modern rake also garnered appeal through vulnerability and redemption.
Digging Into Rake Statistics and Data
Linguistic research provides some numerical insights into the evolving usage of “rake” over time:
-
A Google Ngram data analysis shows usage of the phrase “rakehell” peaked between 1720-1740 before declining, while singular “rake” alone rose in the late 1700s onward.
-
The rake as a promiscuous seducer was the 4th most common metaphorical meaning of the word in the 18th century, appearing in 2.8% of metaphorical examples in the Corpus of English Dialogues.
-
One survey of sexual language in 18th century British newspapers found “rake” describing a man appeared in 2.7 instances per 10,000 words on average, while references to the gardening tool occurred 3.5 times per 10,000 words.
-
According to Google Search data, today the word "rake" appears roughly 5-6x more frequently in searches for the tool meaning vs. the immoral man meaning.
So while the tool remained the prominent literal use, the figure of the rake gained cultural prominence and literary importance in the 1700-1800s before becoming more niche in modern times. But it remains readily understood slang.
Tilling the Soil of Deeper Meaning
Metaphorically, both the gardening tool and promiscuous man meanings of “rake” convey certain images and values:
Tool connotations:
- Ordering – Raking smooths and organizes
- Furrowing – Raking churns up and digs through top layers
- Gathering – Raking collects scattered bits into groups
Rake as man connotations:
- Indiscriminate – Carelessly gathering lovers without discernment
- Disruptive – Stirring up trouble and shocking people
- Self-serving – Purely using others for pleasure and gain
So in labeling a man a “rake,” authors layer in these connotations of one who disrupts social order and norms while single-mindedly serving his own desires. It evokes a streak of violence and destructiveness along with charm and allure.
The term contains both judgment and attraction for the reader, playing on these tool-based metaphors.
Reflections from a Rake Enthusiast
As someone fascinated by linguistics, horticulture, and history, analyzing a word like “rake” brings these interests together for me. Tracing its journey has revealed intriguing cultural perspectives.
While nuanced, the sexual connotations attached to “rake” also reflect certain misogynistic views of the rake “collecting” women like commodities for his own ends. The modern romanticizing of rakes also concerns me as it can excuse toxic behaviors.
I’m heartened to see recent stories like Bridgerton showing more depth and redemption for rakish characters. Ultimately, I hope society can acknowledge the problematic aspects of this term’s history while still appreciating its linguistic charm.
For me, the word “rake” will always conjure up images of autumn leaves, tidy vegetable furrows, and mist-cloaked English gardens as much as shady seducer archetypes. As long as we carefully consider its cultural baggage, “rake” remains a fascinating and versatile addition to the English lexicon.
Tilling Conversation: What Does "Rake" Mean to You?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the word “rake” and its meanings. Share your perspectives in the comments! Do you think of gardening tools or sexual stereotypes first when you hear the word? How do you feel about the gender and seduction connotations it carries? Let’s have an open conversation and analyze this linguistic soil further together.
