rackettn.

Etymology: < German Rackett, Racket, Rankett kind of organ stop (1564 as Rancket; now apparently usually Rankett), double-reed woodwind instrument used during the Renaissance and Baroque period (1576 as Raggett); further etymology uncertain and disputed; it is also unclear whether the terms for the organ stop and the woodwind instrument were originally the same word.The origin of the German word is uncertain. With forms of the type Rankett perhaps compare Rank turning, trick (see wrench n.¹). With those of the type Rackett perhaps compare Italian rocchetta small rock or distaff (although this is apparently first attested slightly later (beginning of 17th cent.: see rocket n.⁵)) or its cognate rocchetto bobbin (see ratchet n.²). Alternatively, perhaps compare German Rakete rocket (see rocket n.⁵). An association with fireworks (i.e. rockets) is perhaps confirmed by a 1589 source, which apparently includes the instrument among a list of carnival instruments and gives a (German) synonym Zündfleschen, literally ‘tinder flasks’, although this could perhaps also be interpreted as a joke or pun.