[reɪl], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a bar or series of bars fixed on upright supports or attached to a wall or ceiling, serving as part of a barrier or used to hang things on
(e.g: a curtain rail)

- a steel bar or continuous line of bars laid on the ground as one of a pair forming a railway track
(e.g: the goods train left the rails)

- the edge of a surfboard or sailboard

- a horizontal piece in the frame of a panelled door or sash window

- a conductor which is maintained at a fixed potential and to which other parts of a circuit are connected
(e.g: the anode must be connected to the positive supply rail)


Phrases:
- go off the rails
- on the rails

Origin:
Middle English: from Old French reille ‘iron rod’, from Latin regula ‘straight stick, rule’

[reɪl], (Verb)

Definitions:
- provide or enclose (a space or place) with a rail or rails
(e.g: the altar is railed off from the nave)

- convey (goods) by rail
(e.g: perishables were railed into Manhattan)

- (in windsurfing) sail the board on its edge
(e.g: the more you pull down on the boom, the more you rail)

- (of a man) have vigorous penetrative sex with (someone)


Phrases:
- go off the rails
- on the rails

Origin:
Middle English: from Old French reille ‘iron rod’, from Latin regula ‘straight stick, rule’

[reɪl], (Verb)

Definitions:
- complain or protest strongly and persistently about
(e.g: he railed at human fickleness)


Phrases:

Origin:
late Middle English: from French railler, from Provençal ralhar ‘to jest’, based on an alteration of Latin rugire ‘to bellow’

[reɪl], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a secretive bird with drab grey and brown plumage, typically having a long bill and found in dense waterside vegetation


Phrases:

Origin:
late Middle English: from Old Northern French raille, perhaps of imitative origin