[rail] n [ME raile, fr. MF reille ruler, bar, fr. L regula ruler, fr. regere to keep straight, direct, rule--more at right] (14c) 1 a: a bar extending from one post or support to another and serving as a guard or barrier b: a structural member or support
2. a: railing 1 b: a light structure serving as a guard at the outer edge of a ship's deck c: a fence bounding a racetrack 3 a: a bar of rolled steel forming a track for wheeled vehicles b: track c: railroad
[2]rail vt (14c): to provide with a railing: fence [3]rail n, pl rail or rails [ME raile, fr. MF raale] (15c): 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 usu. very long toes which enable them to run on the soft mud of marshes [4]rail vi [ME, fr. MF railler to mock, fr. OProv ralhar to babble, joke, fr. (assumed) VL ragulare to bray, fr. LL ragere to neigh] (15c): to revile or scold in harsh, insolent, or abusive language syn see scold -- rail.er n