hat-rack
v.— «Replacing that stock was slowed last fall when canker, the disease most dangerous to citrus, was discovered in several Florida nurseries. Millions of seedlings had to be destroyed. Other trees damaged in 1983 were “hat-racked”—pruned until they only had three or four limbs.» —“Florida Citrus Devastated In Record Freeze” San Francisco Chronicle Jan. 23, 1985. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Carmen in Jacksonville, Florida, was told she was pretty as a speck of puff. The more common simile is pretty as a speckled pup or cute as a speckled pup. This is part of a complete episode.
Related
Samantha from Charleston, South Carolina, says her mother and grandmother are of Italian heritage, and have always advised keeping one’s neck warm as a precaution against the mal aria. That sort of consigli della nonna, or...