rail

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A horizontal bar extending between supports and used for support or as a barrier

   A horizontal bar extending between supports and used for support or as a barrier; a railing.

   • Old Applegate, in the stern, just set and looked at me, and Lord James, amidship, waved both arms and kept hollering for help. I took a couple of everlasting big strokes and managed to grab hold of the skiff's rail, close to the stern.
2. 2

   The metal bar forming part of the track for a railroad.

3. 3

   A railroad

   A railroad; a railway, as a means of transportation.

   • We travelled to the seaside by rail.
   • a small Scottish village not accessible by rail
   • rail transport
4. ›+ 19 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      A conductor maintained at a fixed electrical potential relative to ground, to which other…

      A conductor maintained at a fixed electrical potential relative to ground, to which other circuit components are connected.

      • ISA devices draw power from the +5 V, −5 V, +12 V, and −12 V rails of the power supply unit.
   2. 5

      A horizontal piece of wood that serves to separate sections of a door or window.

   3. 6

      One of the lengthwise edges of a surfboard.

      • Rails alone can only ever have a marginal effect on a board's general turning ability.
   4. 7

      A vertical section on one side of a web page.

      • We're experimenting with ads in the right-hand rail.
   5. 8

      A large line (portion or serving of a powdery illegal drug).

      • Do a couple rails and chase your own tail
   6. 9

      Each of two vertical side bars supporting the rungs of a ladder.

   7. 10

      The raised edge of the game board.

   8. 11

      To travel by railway.

      • Mottram of the Indian Survey had ridden thirty and railed one hundred miles from his lonely post in the desert […]
   9. 12

      To place on a track.

   10. 13

       To enclose with rails or a railing.

       • It ought to be fenced in and railed.
   11. 14

       To range in a line.

       • They were brought to London all railed in ropes, like a team of horses in a cart.
   12. 15

       To sexually penetrate in a rough manner.

   13. 16

       To snort a line of powdered drugs.

   14. 17

       Any of several birds in the family Rallidae.

   15. 18

       To complain violently (against, about).

       • Till thou canst raile the seale from off my bond Thou but offend'st thy Lungs to speake so loud: Repaire thy wit good youth, or it will fall To endlesse ruine. I stand heere for Law.
       • He always said: “Let them rail on; he laughs best who laughs last.”
   16. 19

       An item of clothing

       An item of clothing; a cloak or other garment; a dress.

   17. 20

       Specifically, a woman's headscarf or neckerchief.

       • A course hempen raile about her shoulders.
   18. 21

       To gush

       To gush; to flow.

       • his breste and his brayle was bloodé – and hit rayled all over the see.
       • So furiously each other did assayle, / As if their soules they would attonce haue rent / Out of their brests, that streames of bloud did rayle / Adowne, as if their springes of life were spent[…].
   19. 22

       To blow.

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