Rail (rl), n. [OE. reil, reel, AS. hrægel, hrægl, a garment; akin to
OHG. hregil, OFries. hreil.] An outer cloak or covering; a neckerchief
for women. Fairholt.
Rail, v. i. [Etymol. uncertain.] To flow forth; to roll out; to course.
[Obs.]
Streams of tears from her fair eyes forth railing.
Spenser.
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, as in fences, balustrades,
staircases, etc.
2. (Arch.) A horizontal piece in a frame or paneling. See Illust. of
Style.
3. (Railroad) A bar of steel or iron, forming part of the track on
which the wheels roll. It is usually shaped with reference to vertical
strength, and is held in place by chairs, splices, etc.
4. (Naut.) (a) The stout, narrow plank that forms the top of the
bulwarks. (b) The light, fencelike structures of wood or metal at the
break of the deck, and elsewhere where such protection is needed.
Rail fence. See under Fence. -- Rail guard. (a) A device attached to
the front of a locomotive on each side for clearing the rail of
obstructions. (b) A guard rail. See under Guard. -- Rail joint
(Railroad), a splice connecting the adjacent ends of rails, in
distinction from a chair, which is merely a seat. The two devices are
sometimes united. Among several hundred varieties, the fish joint is
standard. See Fish joint, under Fish. -- Rail train (Iron & Steel
Manuf.), a train of rolls in a rolling mill, for making rails for
railroads from blooms or billets.
Rail, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Railed (rld); p. pr. & vb. n. Railing.] 1. To
inclose with rails or a railing.
It ought to be fenced in and railed.
Ayliffe.