Rail the Bar, Rail the Complaint and Rail the Bird
A rail is a horizontal bar. Two other rails mean to complain bitterly and a marsh bird.
A rail is a horizontal bar, including the steel ones a train runs on. Two other rails exist. *To rail against* something, meaning to complain bitterly, comes from French *railler*, to mock — the same source as *rally* in the sense of teasing and, distantly, *ridicule*. And a *rail* is a secretive marsh bird, from French *râle*, probably imitating its rasping call. The bar sense is Latin *regula*, a straight stick, which also gives *rule* and *regular*.
- A horizontal bar. *A handrail.*
- A train track. *By rail.*
- To complain bitterly. *Railing against fate.*
- A marsh bird. *A water rail.*
- Latin — *regula*, a straight stick. *The bar.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | rail | A rail. |
| Verb | rail | Railing. |
| Compound | railway | A railway. |
| Related | rule | A rule. |
| French | râle | A rail bird. |
- He gripped the rail.Bar.
- She railed against the decision.Complaint.
- A water rail called.Bird.
The regula family
- Rail — a straight bar
- Rule — a straight stick, then a principle
- Regular — conforming to a rule
- Regulate — to control by rule
- Ruler — the measuring stick and the governor
The bar is Old French *reille*, from Latin *regula*. The verb is French *railler*, to mock. The bird is French *râle*.
Is railing against something related to a handrail?
No. That verb comes from French railler, to mock, and has no connection to the bar.
Is a ruler related to a rail?
Yes. Both come from Latin regula, a straight stick used for measuring and for setting rules.