A stack of hay, straw, or similar material built in the open air. Can also mean a slight sprain or wrench, especially of the neck or back.
From Old English 'hreac' meaning a heap or stack. The injury meaning may come from the twisting motion involved in building or moving hay ricks, or from a separate Germanic root meaning to stretch.
Hay ricks were architectural marvels of rural engineering - farmers developed specific stacking techniques to shed water while allowing air circulation, preventing rot and spontaneous combustion. A well-built rick could preserve hay for years, making it a form of agricultural insurance.
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