late Old English, from Old Norse rás 'current'. It was originally a northern English word with the sense 'rapid forward movement', which gave rise to the senses 'contest of speed' (early 16th cent.) and 'channel, path' (i.e. the space traversed). The verb dates from the late 15th centearly 16th cent. (denoting a group with common features): via French from Italian razza, of unknown ultimate originlate Middle English: from Old French rais, from Latin radix, radic- 'root'