: 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
Noun (1)
the stairs are icy, so hold onto the rail
an abandoned stretch of rail that was overgrown with brush Verb (2)
we could hear the cook in the kitchen railing against his assistant and wondered if we'd ever get our food
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Noun
The linen blend textile feels casually elegant and the grommet rail line ensures the drapes will move smoothly on any rod.—Shoko Wanger, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2025 Legend of the Seas will feature Royal Railway – Legend Station, an immersive dining experience sail in a full-size rail car, the cruise line announced.—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
Braun also railed about IEDC’s lack of transparency on the 2024 campaign trail.—Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 6 Oct. 2025 Near the rooftop’s railing, with the Empire State Building shining in the background, was Blaise Serra, the current North American champion of closeup magic.—Charlotte Goddu, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rail
Word History
Etymology
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
: any of various small wading birds related to the cranes
rail
4 of 4verb
: to scold or complain in harsh or bitter language
railernoun
Etymology
Noun
Middle English raile "bar, rail," from early French raille, reille "bar, ruler," from Latin regula "straightedge, ruler," from regere "to lead straight, govern, rule" — related to regent, regulate, rule
Noun
Middle English raile "rail (the bird)," from early French raalie (same meaning)
Verb
Middle English railen "to scold, be abusive to," from early French railler "to mock," probably derived from Latin ragere "to neigh"
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