Etymology Dictionary

RACE (1),  a trial of speed, swift course, swift current.  (E.)   M. E. rees, res (with long e), Gower, C. A. i. 335, l. 19; Tale of Gamelyn, l. 543 (Wright), or l. 547 (Six-text); spelt rase, Pricke of Conscience, l. 8938.—A. S. rǽs, a rush, swift course; Luke, viii. 33. + Icel. rás, a race, running.   β. The form of the root is RAS, convertible with ARS, whence Skt. rish, to flow; the orig. sense seems to be "current' of a stream, as in E. mill-race.   Der. race, verb. A. S. rǽsan; race-course, race-horse, rac-er.

RACE (2),  a lineage, family, breed.  (F.—O. H. G.)   In Spenser, F. Q. i. 10. 60.—F. race, 'a race, linnage, family;' Cot.   Cf. Port. raça, Span. raza, Ital. razza.—O. H. G. reiza, a line, stroke, mark; the notion of 'descent' being represented by that of 'direct line,' as in E.   See Diez, who shews that the Romance forms cannot come out of Lat. radix, though it is quite possible that some confusion with radix may have influenced race in some of its usages; see Race (3).   β. This O. H. G. reiza is cited by Fick, iii. 309; and is cognate with Icel. reitr, of which the orig. sense was "a scratch,' der. from ríta, to scratch, cognate with E. Write.   Der. rac-y, q.v.

RACE (3),  a root.  (F.,—L.)   'A race of ginger;' Wint. Tale, iv. 3. 50; spelt raze, I Hen. IV, ii. I. 27.—O. F. raïs, raïz, a root (Burguy); cf. Span. raiz, a root.—Lat. radicem, acc. of radix, a root; see Radix.