(rāl) noun
1. A bar, usually of wood or iron, resting on supports, as in a fence, at the side of a stairway, or capping the bulwarks of a ship; a horizontal wooden piece between panels, joining the stiles; also, a railing.
2. One of a series of parallel bars, of iron or steel, resting upon cross–ties, forming a support and guide for wheels, as of a railway.
3. A railway track considered as a means of transportation: to ship by rail.
—to go by rail To travel by train.
—to ride (someone) on a rail To put (a person) astride a rail and carry around or beyond the limits of a community, as a punishment.
—v.t. To furnish or shut in with rails; fence. [<OF reille <L regula. Doublet of RULE.]
RAIL FENCE

(rāl) noun
1. Any of numerous marsh–haunting, wading birds (family Rallidae, subfamily Rallinae) having very short wings, moderately long legs and toes, a short turned–up tail, long compressed bill, and soft, dun–colored plumage; specifically, in North America, the king rail (Rallus elegans), the clapper rail or mud hen (R. longirostris), and the sora or Carolina rail. They are esteemed as game birds. ♦ Collateral adjective: ralline.
2. Any of various other birds of northern Europe, as the corn crake. Also rail′bird′. [<OF raale, ralle, prob. ult. <L radere scratch]

(rāl) v.i.
To use scornful, insolent, or abusive language: with at or against.
—v.t. To drive or force by railing. [<F railler <Pg. ralhar chatter, prob. <L ragere shriek. Doublet of RALLY².]
—rail′er noun