rail

rail
{{11}}rail (n.1) "bar," early 14c., from O.Fr. reille, from V.L. *regla, from L. regula "straight stick," dim. form related to regere "to straighten, guide" (see RIGHT (Cf. right)). Used figuratively for "thinness" from 1872. Technically, railings (late 15c.) are horizontal, palings are vertical.
{{12}}rail (n.2) "small bird," mid-15c., from O.Fr. raale (13c.), related to ráler "to rattle," of unknown origin, perhaps imitative.
{{12}}rail (v.) "complain," mid-15c., from M.Fr. railler "to tease or joke" (15c.), perhaps from O.Prov. ralhar "scoff, to chat, to joke," from V.L. *ragulare "to bray" (Cf. It. ragghiare "to bray"), from L.L. ragere "to roar," probably of imitative origin. See RALLY (Cf. rally) (2). Related: Railed; railing.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • rail — rail …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • rail — [ raj ] n. m. • 1817; mot angl.; cf. a. fr. raille, reille « barre »; lat. regula 1 ♦ Chacune des barres d acier profilées, mises bout à bout sur deux lignes parallèles et posées sur des traverses pour constituer une voie ferrée; chacune des deux …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Rail — or rails may refer to:* Guard rail, for safety or support * Handrail, on a stairway * Rallidae, the group of birds called rails * Rail tracks * The hot rolled steel profiles used on rail tracks or Tramway tracks ** Railway rail ** Vignoles rail… …   Wikipedia

  • Rail — Rail, n. [Akin to LG. & Sw. regel bar, bolt, G. riegel a rail, bar, or bolt, OHG. rigil, rigel, bar, bolt, and possibly to E. row a line.] 1. A bar of timber or metal, usually horizontal or nearly so, extending from one post or support to another …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • rail — [reɪl] noun [uncountable] TRANSPORT TRANSPORT travel or transport by train: • What percentage of goods are sent by rail? • rail travel * * * rail UK US /reɪl/ noun [U] TRANSPORT …   Financial and business terms

  • Rail — Rail, n. [F. r[^a]le, fr. r[^a]ler to have a rattling in the throat; of German origin, and akin to E. rattle. See {Rattle}, v.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of limicoline birds of the family {Rallid[ae]}, especially those of the genus… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Raíl — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Para la moneda, véase Riel camboyano. Riel moderno[cita requerida]. Se denomina riel, carril o raíl a cada una de las barras met …   Wikipedia Español

  • rail — Ⅰ. rail [1] ► NOUN 1) a bar or series of bars fixed on upright supports or attached to a wall or ceiling, serving as part of a fence or barrier or used to hang things on. 2) a steel bar or continuous line of bars laid on the ground as one of a… …   English terms dictionary

  • rail — rail1 [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 support 2. a fence or railing; specif., the fence surrounding the infield of a racetrack …   English World dictionary

  • Rail — (r[=a]l), v. t. 1. To rail at. [Obs.] Feltham. [1913 Webster] 2. To move or influence by railing. [R.] [1913 Webster] Rail the seal from off my bond. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • raíl — Adaptación del inglés rail, ‘carril de la vía férrea’. En español se usa mayoritariamente como palabra bisílaba, con hiato entre las vocales en contacto: raíl [rra íl]. Se desaconseja, por tanto, la forma monosílaba ⊕ rail [rráil], con diptongo… …   Diccionario panhispánico de dudas

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