drail

1 of 2

noun

ˈdrāl,
especially before pause or consonant -āəl
plural -s
1
: a hook with a lead-covered shank used in trolling for fish (as bluefish)
2
: a perforated iron projecting from the beam of a plow to which the horses are hitched

drail

2 of 2

verb

"
-ed/-ing/-s
: to fish by trolling with a drail

Word History

Etymology

Noun

from obsolete English drail to drag or trail along, perhaps alteration (influenced by draw & drag) of trail

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near drail

Cite this Entry

“Drail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drail. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!