Definition of rail
1a : a bar extending from one post or support to another and serving as a guard or barrierb : a structural member or support
2a : railing 1b : a light structure serving as a guard at the outer edge of a ship's deckc : a fence bounding a racetrack
3a : a bar of rolled steel forming a track for wheeled vehiclesb : trackc : railroad
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Origin and Etymology of rail
Middle English raile, from Anglo-French raille, reille bar, rule, from Latin regula straightedge, rule — more at rule
Other Railroad Terms
First Known Use of rail
14th century
rail
Definition of rail
rail
orrails
: 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
Illustration of rail
Origin and Etymology of rail
Middle English raile, from Middle French raalle
rail
Definition of rail
intransitive verb
: to revile or scold in harsh, insolent, or abusive language
railer
nounOrigin and Etymology of rail
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
Synonym Discussion of rail
RAIL Defined for Kids
Definition of rail for Students
: a small or medium-sized wading bird related to the crane that has very long toes for walking on the soft mud of marshes
Definition of rail for Students
railed
;railing
: to scold or complain in harsh or bitter language Students railed about a longer school year.
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See words that rhyme with rail Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for rail Spanish Central: Translation of rail Nglish: Translation of rail for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of rail for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rail
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