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n. 1. a. A bar extending horizontally between supports, as in a fence. b. A structure made of such bars and supports and forming a barrier or guard; a railing. 2. A steel bar used, usually in pairs, as a track for railroad cars or other wheeled vehicles. 3. Sports A grind rail. 4. The railroad as a means of transportation: goods transported by rail. 5. A horizontal framing member in a door or in paneling. tr.v. railed, rail·ing, rails To supply or enclose with rails or a rail. [Middle English raile, from Old French reille, from Latin rēgula, straight piece of wood, ruler; see reg- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
n. Any of various marsh birds of the family Rallidae, found worldwide and characteristically having brownish plumage and short wings. [Middle English rale, from Old French rasle, probably named for their harsh cries and from Old French *rasler, to make a harsh noise (attested in Middle French rasler, to haggle, bellow like a stag), akin to Old French rasclar, to harrow, rake, from Old Provençal rasclar; see RACLETTE.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
intr.v. railed, rail·ing, rails To express objections or criticisms in bitter, harsh, or abusive language. See Synonyms at scold. [Middle English railen, from Old French railler, to tease, joke, from Old Provençal ralhar, to chat, joke, from Vulgar Latin *ragulāre, to bray, from Late Latin ragere.] railer n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
