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
Julie in Fort Pierce, Florida, recalls that on sweltering days her mother would declare the weather was hotter than Billy Blue Blazes! The word blazes is a euphemism for “hell,” as in hot as blazes. The blue in blue blazes has long been used as an...
In 1916, a small-town newspaper in Pennsylvania printed a fanciful item about a local gathering with a guest list that included, among others, Miss Ella Vader, Mr. Ray Zor, and other punny names. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of...