rail

1
[ reyl ]
/ reɪl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR rail ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

verb (used with object)

to furnish or enclose with a rail or rails.

Origin of rail

1
1250–1300; Middle English raile < Old French raille bar, beam < Latin rēgula bar, straight piece of wood, regula

OTHER WORDS FROM rail

rail·less, adjective rail·like, adjective

Words nearby rail

rai, raia, raiatea, raid, raider, rail, rail anchor, rail bead, rail detector car, rail fence, rail gauge

Definition for rail (2 of 3)

rail 2
[ reyl ]
/ reɪl /

verb (used without object)

to utter bitter complaint or vehement denunciation (often followed by at or against): to rail at fate.

verb (used with object)

to bring, force, etc., by railing.

Origin of rail

2
1425–75; late Middle English railen < Middle French railler to deride < Provençal ralhar to chatter < Vulgar Latin *ragulāre, derivative of Late Latin ragere to bray

OTHER WORDS FROM rail

rail·er, noun rail·ing·ly, adverb

Definition for rail (3 of 3)

rail 3
[ reyl ]
/ reɪl /

noun

any of numerous birds of the family Rallidae, that have short wings, a narrow body, long toes, and a harsh cry and inhabit grasslands, forests, and marshes in most parts of the world.

Origin of rail

3
1400–50; late Middle English rale < Old French raale (cognate with Provençal rascla), noun derivative of raler < Vulgar Latin *rāsiculāre frequentative of Latin rādere (past participle rāsus) to scratch

Words related to rail

fume, scold, rant, inveigh, castigate, thunder, complain, vociferate, revile, blast, jaw, fulminate, rate, censure, vituperate, attack, abuse, upbraid, berate, whip

Example sentences from the Web for rail

British Dictionary definitions for rail (1 of 3)

rail 1
/ (reɪl) /

noun

verb (tr)

to provide with a rail or railings
(usually foll by in or off) to fence (an area) with rails

Derived forms of rail

railless, adjective

Word Origin for rail

C13: from Old French raille rod, from Latin rēgula ruler, straight piece of wood

British Dictionary definitions for rail (2 of 3)

rail 2
/ (reɪl) /

verb

(intr ; foll by at or against) to complain bitterly or vehemently to rail against fate

Derived forms of rail

railer, noun

Word Origin for rail

C15: from Old French railler to mock, from Old Provençal ralhar to chatter, joke, from Late Latin ragere to yell, neigh

British Dictionary definitions for rail (3 of 3)

rail 3
/ (reɪl) /

noun

any of various small wading birds of the genus Rallus and related genera: family Rallidae, order Gruiformes (cranes, etc). They have short wings, long legs, and dark plumage

Word Origin for rail

C15: from Old French raale, perhaps from Latin rādere to scrape

Idioms and Phrases with rail

rail

see off the rails; thin as a rail; third rail.