Main Entry: ¹rail

Pronunciation: \ˈrāl\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English raile, from Anglo-French raille, reille bar, rule, from Latin regula straightedge, rule — more at rule

Date: 14th century

1 a : a bar extending from one post or support to another and serving as a guard or barrier b : a structural member or support
2 a : railing 1 b : a light structure serving as a guard at the outer edge of a ship's deck c : a fence bounding a racetrack
3 a : a bar of rolled steel forming a track for wheeled vehicles b : track c : railroad