Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A short piece of rail placed beside a switch as a guide for the wheels in passing the switch.
  • noun A hand-rail on the outside of the boiler of a locomotive.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word side-rail.

Examples

  • Still, just one collapse of a play yard side rail should have gotten the immediate attention of the CPSC because of the record of serious injuries and deaths associated with play yard side-rail collapse.

    Companies leave children at risk by not responding to recalls 2009

  • Still, just one collapse of a play yard side rail should have gotten the immediate attention of the CPSC because of the record of serious injuries and deaths associated with play yard side-rail collapse.

    Companies leave children at risk by not responding to recalls 2009

  • This issue was kinda boring, kind of a side-rail from the big final roller-coaster ride I've been told to expect.

    Week 47: The Celestial Longbox Douglas Wolk 2007

  • However, there was no side-rail, nor any place to walk upon, only the channel a fathom wide, and the perpendicular walls of crag shutting out the evening.

    Lorna Doone Richard Doddridge 2004

  • 'So, apart from a submarine, anything else missing?' he asked, emerging back on to the rear deck where Janie was leaning against a side-rail.

    Not the End of the World Brookmyre, Christopher, 1968- 1998

  • Eddie tried to remove his hands from the side-rail, but they seemed frozen to the pitted metal in a deathgrip.

    The Waste Lands King, Stephen, 1947- 1991

  • "The gap is inconvenient, but the side-rail is still there, so we'll have something to hold onto."

    The Waste Lands King, Stephen, 1947- 1991

  • With the plank crowded ahead of her, she had to wait, holding the side-rail in one hand and lolling back at full stretch, carelessly, laughing and talking to her companion.

    Flashman And The Dragon Fraser, George MacDonald, 1925- 1985

  • With the plank crowded ahead of her, she had to wait, holding the side-rail in one hand and lolling back at full stretch, carelessly, laughing and talking to her companion.

    Flashman and the Dragon Fraser, George MacDonald, 1925- 1985

  • She closed her eyes, buried her nose in the counterpane, and gripped a side-rail fiercely in each hand.

    Children of the Lens Smith, E. E. 1954

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.