: any of numerous wading birds (family Rallidae, the rail family) that are of small or medium size and have short rounded wings, a short tail, and usually very long toes which enable them to run on the soft mud of marshes
Noun (1)
the stairs are icy, so hold onto the rail
an abandoned stretch of rail that was overgrown with brush Verb (2)
we could hear the cook in the kitchen railing against his assistant and wondered if we'd ever get our food
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Chronic underinvestment combined with a surge in demand for rail services has put DB under immense pressure to up its game.—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune Europe, 3 July 2024 Launched in late April, the new rail line runs through the country’s Anatolia region, from the capital city of Ankara to Diyarbakir.—Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2024 Its white ride almost looks entangled with the neighboring Manta coaster, and screaming Kraken passengers can be heard in the plaza beneath the Penguin Trek rails.—Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 1 July 2024 During the heat wave, Sacramento Regional Transit will provide free bus and light rail rides for those traveling to and from cooling centers in Sacramento County this Monday through Sunday.—Hannah Poukish, Sacramento Bee, 1 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for rail
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rail.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English raile, from Anglo-French raille, reille bar, rule, from Latin regula straightedge, rule — more at rule
Noun (2)
Middle English raile, from Middle French raalle
Verb (2)
Middle English, from Middle French railler to mock, probably from Old French reillier to growl, mutter, from Vulgar Latin *ragulare to bray, from Late Latin ragere to neigh
: any of various small wading birds related to the cranes
rail
4 of 4verb
: to scold or complain in harsh or bitter language
railernoun
Etymology
Noun
Middle English raile "bar, rail," from early French raille, reille "bar, ruler," from Latin regula "straightedge, ruler," from regere "to lead straight, govern, rule" — related to regent, regulate, rule
Noun
Middle English raile "rail (the bird)," from early French raalie (same meaning)
Verb
Middle English railen "to scold, be abusive to," from early French railler "to mock," probably derived from Latin ragere "to neigh"
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