rail-splitter

[ reyl-split-er ]

/ ˈreɪlˌsplɪt ər /

a person or thing that splits logs into rails, especially for fences.

(initial capital letter) nickname of Abraham Lincoln.

Origin of rail-splitter

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60; rail¹ + splitter

They disliked to hear so much about "honest Old Abe," "the rail-splitter," "the flat-boatman," "the pioneer."

The Life Of Abraham Lincoln |Ward H. Lamon
Well, I tell you: my old man is the rail-splitter, and my old master sent us to split rails, and dat is all we does.

The Dispatch Carrier and Memoirs of Andersonville Prison |William N. Tyler
These rails have become classical in our history, and the name of rail-splitter has been more than the degree of a college.

Our American Holidays: Lincoln's Birthday |Various
What they seemed proudest of was that he had been a rail-splitter, for nearly all bore a fence-rail.

The Crisis, Complete |Winston Churchill

People who doubted the will or the wisdom of their Rail-splitter Candidate need have had no fear.

The Boys' Life of Abraham Lincoln |Helen Nicolay