a. [ Compar. Racier superl. Raciest. ] [ From Race a tribe, family. ] 1. Having a strong flavor indicating origin; of distinct characteristic taste; tasting of the soil; hence, fresh; rich. [ 1913 Webster ]

The racy wine,
Late from the mellowing cask restored to light. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: Exciting to the mental taste by a strong or distinctive character of thought or language; peculiar and piquant; fresh and lively; vigorous; spirited. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our raciest, most idiomatic popular words. M. Arnold. [ 1913 Webster ]

Burns's English, though not so racy as his Scotch, is generally correct. H. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

The rich and racy humor of a natural converser fresh from the plow. Prof. Wilson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Somewhat suggestive of sexual themes; slightly improper; risqué. [ PJC ]

Syn. -- Spicy; spirited; lively; smart; piquant; risqué. -- Racy, Spicy. Racy refers primarily to that peculiar flavor which certain wines are supposed to derive from the soil in which the grapes were grown; and hence we call a style or production racy when it “smacks of the soil, ” or has an uncommon degree of natural freshness and distinctiveness of thought and language. Spicy, when applied to style, has reference to a spirit and pungency added by art, seasoning the matter like a condiment. It does not, like racy, suggest native peculiarity. A spicy article in a magazine; a spicy retort. Racy in conversation; a racy remark. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rich, racy verses, in which we
The soil from which they come, taste, smell, and see. Cowley. [ 1913 Webster ]