- rail
- railrail1 [rāl]n.[ME raile < OFr reille < L regula,RULE]1. a bar of wood, metal, etc. placed horizontally between upright posts to serve as a barrier or support2. a fence or railing; specif., the fence surrounding the infield of a racetrack3. any of a series of parallel metal bars laid upon crossties or in the ground to make a track for railroad cars, streetcars, etc.4. a railroad or railway as a means of transportation [to travel by rail]5. a horizontal piece of wood separating the panels in doors or wainscoting6. the rim of a billiard table7. Naut. a narrow, wooden or metal piece forming the top of a ship's bulwarksvt.to supply with rails or a railing; fenceadj.of or pertaining to a railway or railroad——————(go) off the rails1. (to go) off the proper course2. (to become) insane——————☆ ride on a railto place on a rail and carry out of the community: extralegal punishment in which the victim was usually tarred and feathered beforehandrail2 [rāl]vi.[ME raylen < MFr < railler < Prov ralhar < VL * ragulare, to bray < LL ragere, to bellow]to speak bitterly or reproachfully; complain violently: with against, at, or aboutrailern.rail3 [rāl]n.pl. rails or rail [ME rayle < MFr raale < raaler, to screech, rattle < VL * rasclare, to grate: orig. echoic]any of a number of gruiform marsh birds (family Rallidae), characterized by short wings and tail, long toes, and a harsh cry
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.