🚆 Train transport 🪑 A bar or barrier 😡 To protest angrily ⚡ A conducting bar 🐦 A wading bird 🚧 To fence off 🚆 To travel by train

rail

6 9.9

A small bird with long toes that lives in wet areas

noun
/reɪl/

Specialized

: rascón

As a result, clapper rail numbers have increased both at the cinega (or wetland) and at the nearby Rio Hardy.
clapper rail
rail species
light-footed clapper rail

Examples

A gull landed on the rail beside his chair and stared insolently at him for a second.

Fiction book (2002)
A whip-poor-will sitting on the rail fence began to call quite loudly, utterly indifferent to her presence.

Fiction book (1996)
Rails cackled in the marsh, and hulls of work boats squeaked against pilings along the public dock.

Fiction book (1995)
The Okinawa rail is known for its distinctive appearance and unique behaviors in its natural habitat.
Researchers are studying the breeding habits of the Inaccessible Island rail to understand its declining population.
The rail bird adapted to running on soft mud, using its long toes to navigate through wetlands.

Idioms

skinny as a rail

Informal

1 7.0

Very thin person with little or no fat

to ride on a rail

Archaic

9.9

To be publicly punished or laughed at in a way that shames you

Compounds

rail line

16 2.8

Tracks and the ground they sit on that form a route for trains

third rail

Specialized

4 7.7

An extra rail beside train tracks that provides electricity to trains

rail fence

1 4.3

A fence made of long wooden rails laid in a zigzag to keep animals in

fence rail

1 2.8

A long narrow piece of wood that sits across posts to make a barrier

fife rail

Specialized

1 9.9

A low fence around a sailing ship's mast that holds ropes or supports people

rail technology

Specialized

1 4.4

The planning, building, and running of trains, tracks, and stations

rail-splitter

Archaic

1 8.8

A person who splits logs to make wooden rails for fences

safety rail

1 2.3

A strong bar along stairs or platforms that stops people from falling

split rail

1 6.1

A long wooden piece cut lengthwise from a log used in fences

split-rail fence

1 4.8

A fence made from split logs stacked horizontally in a zigzag

bilevel rail car

Specialized

5.2

A train car with two levels of seats to carry more passengers

double-deck rail car

4.2

A train car with two levels of seats to carry more passengers

land rail

9.0

A small brown bird that lives in fields and meadows, often hidden in tall grass

loot rail

Jargon

9.5

A system in a game that gives items fairly to each player

picture rail

5.0

A narrow rail fixed high on a wall for hanging paintings

plate rail

6.8

A narrow shelf fixed to a wall for showing plates and small decorations

towel rail

2.5

A bar fixed to a wall for hanging towels to dry

snake-rail fence

7.5

A low wooden fence made of rails in a zigzag that marks a border

Surface Forms

rail singular

rails plural

Etymology

Rail the bird comes from the old Latin name Rallus for this small marsh bird. So a rail is a small, shy bird that runs on soft mud and hides in reeds.