An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Racker

by Friedrich Kluge

Racker, masculine, ‘layer, hangman's servant,’ Modern High German only; compare Dutch rakker, ‘beadle, hangman.’ Lessing suggested that it was allied to recken, ‘to put to the rack.’ It is now usually connected with Low German racken, ‘to sweep together,’ and Middle Low German racker, ‘flayer, knacker, nightman.’