rail definition

1. a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
2. short for railway
• examples: he traveled by rail
• examples: he was concerned with rail safety
3. a horizontal bar (usually of wood or metal)
4. any of numerous widely distributed small wading birds of the family Rallidae having short wings and very long toes for running on soft mud
5. complain bitterly
6. enclose with rails
• examples: rail in the old graves
7. provide with rails
• examples: The yard was railed
8. separate with a railing
• examples: rail off the crowds from the Presidential palace
9. convey (goods etc.) by rails
• examples: fresh fruit are railed from Italy to Belgium
10. lay with rails
• examples: hundreds of miles were railed out here
11. fish with a handline over the rails of a boat
• examples: They are railing for fresh fish