guardrail

[ gahrd-reyl ]
/ ˈgɑrdˌreɪl /

noun

Also guard·rail·ing. a protective railing, as along a road or stairway.
Railroads. a rail laid parallel to a track to prevent derailment or to keep derailed rolling stock from leaving the roadbed.

Origin of guardrail

First recorded in 1825–35; guard + rail1

Example sentences from the Web for guardrail

British Dictionary definitions for guardrail

guardrail
/ (ˈɡɑːdˌreɪl) /

noun

a railing at the side of a staircase, road, etc, as a safety barrier
Also called (Brit): checkrail railways a short metal rail fitted to the inside of the main rail to provide additional support in keeping a train's wheels on the track