rake
The garden tool sense is purely functional and neutral, evoking images of autumn maintenance and soil preparation. It describes a physical action of pulling material together into a pile. When applied to a person, the term carries a strong social and moral judgment. It describes a specific archetype of a libertine or a debauched man, often implying a level of sophistication or wealth that makes his lack of restraint more scandalous.
Meanings
A garden tool with a long handle and a row of teeth used for gathering leaves or leveling soil.
"He used a rake to clear the autumn leaves from the lawn."
A person who behaves in an immoral or promiscuous way, typically a man of high social standing.
"The novel depicts the protagonist as a charming but reckless rake."
To gather or collect something using a rake.
"She spent the morning raking the fallen needles under the pine trees."