rail

noun (1)

\ˈrāl

Definition of rail

(Entry 1 of 4)

1a : a bar extending from one post or support to another and serving as a guard or barrier

b : a structural member or support

2a : railing sense 1

b : a light structure serving as a guard at the outer edge of a ship's deck

c : a fence bounding a racetrack

3a : a bar of rolled steel forming a track for wheeled vehicles

b : track

c : railroad

rail

verb (1)

railed; railing; rails

Definition of rail (Entry 2 of 4)

transitive verb

: to provide with a railing : fence

rail

noun (2)

plural rail or rails

Definition of rail (Entry 3 of 4)

: any of numerous wading birds (family Rallidae, the rail family) that are of small or medium size and have short rounded wings, a short tail, and usually very long toes which enable them to run on the soft mud of marshes

rail

verb (2)

railed; railing; rails

Definition of rail (Entry 4 of 4)

intransitive verb

: to revile or scold in harsh, insolent, or abusive language

Other Words from rail Choose the Right Synonym Learn More about rail

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Choose the Right Synonym for rail

Verb (2)

scold, upbraid, berate, rail, revile, vituperate mean to reproach angrily and abusively. scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly. angrily scolding the children upbraid implies censuring on definite and usually justifiable grounds. upbraided her assistants for poor research berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding. berated continually by an overbearing boss rail (at or against) stresses an unrestrained berating. railed loudly at their insolence revile implies a scurrilous, abusive attack prompted by anger or hatred. an alleged killer reviled in the press vituperate suggests a violent reviling. was vituperated for betraying his friends

First Known Use of rail

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for rail

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

Middle English raile, from Middle French raalle

Verb (2)

Middle English, from Middle French railler to mock, probably from Old French reillier to growl, mutter, from Vulgar Latin *ragulare to bray, from Late Latin ragere to neigh

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