Defn: Any one of numerous species of limicoline birds of the family Rallidæ, especially those of the genus Rallus, and of closely allied genera. They are prized as game birds.
Note: The common European water rail (Rallus aquaticus) is called also bilcock, skitty coot, and brook runner. The best known American species are the clapper rail, or salt-marsh hen (Rallus lonqirostris, var. crepitans); the king, or red-breasted, rail (R. elegans) (called also fresh-water marshhen); the lesser clapper, or Virginia, rail (R. Virginianus); and the Carolina, or sora, rail (Porzana Carolina). See Sora. Land rail (Zoöl.), the corncrake.
RAIL Rail, v. i. Etym: [F. railler; cf. Sp. rallar to grate, scrape, molest; perhaps fr. (assumed) LL. radiculare, fr. L. radere to scrape, grate. Cf. Rally to banter, Rase.]
Defn: To use insolent and reproachful language; to utter reproaches;
to scoff; followed by at or against, formerly by on. Shak.
And rail at arts he did not understand. Dryden.
Lesbia forever on me rails. Swift.
RAIL
Rail, v. t.
1. To rail at. [Obs.] Feltham.
2. To move or influence by railing. [R.] Rail the seal from off my bond. Shak.
RAILER
Rail"er, n.
Defn: One who rails; one who scoffs, insults, censures, or reproaches with opprobrious language.
RAILING
Rail"ing, a.