rackabones

1) Rack' could be the bones of a dead horse, and the OED has 'rack of bones' for an emaciated person, although the examples are late.

In a much earlier reference it was clearly pejorative, evidently a lean or very thin person, a 'bag of bones', or simply a 'good-for-nothing': 1533 that Wyllm smythe & hys wyffe be brought befor master stawerd for harbryne of rakckabones, Wakefield. Wright has 'rackapelt' and 'rackatag' which are also pejorative.

places Wakefield
dates 1533

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