Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RACE, n.¹ [Fr. race, from the It. razza; Sp. raza, a race, a ray, and raiz, a root, L. radix; Russ. rod, a generation, race; roju, to beget. The primary sense of the root is to thrust a shoot; the L. radix and radius having the same original. This word coincides in origin with rod, ray, radiate, &c. Class Rd.]

1. The lineage of a family, or continued series of descendants from a parent who is called the stock. A race is the series of descendants indefinitely. Thus all mankind are called the race of Adam; the Israelites are of the race of Abraham and Jacob. Thus we speak of a race of kings, the race of Clovis or Charlemagne; a race of nobles, &c. Hence the long race of Alban fathers come. – Dryden.
2. A generation; a family of descendants. A rare of youthful and unhandled colts. – Shak.
3. A particular breed; as, a race of mules; a race of horses; a race of sheep. – Chapman. Of such a race, no matter who is king. – Murphy.
4. A root; as, race-ginger, ginger in the root or not pulverized.
5. A small artificial canal or water course, leading from the dam of a stream, to the machinery which it drives; sometimes called the head-race, in opposition to the tail-race.
6. A particular strength or taste of wine; a kind of tartness. [Query, does this belong to this root or to the following?] – Temple. Massenger. Tail-race, the water course leading from the bottom of a water-wheel.