railingn.1
/ˈreɪlɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈreɪlɪŋ/ a. A branch or shoot of a vine trained along a rail or support. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular fruit-tree or -plant > [noun] > tree or plant producing edible berries > grape-vine > parts of
railinga1382
arma1398
palmita1398
vine-branchc1400
vine-leafc1420
portoir1601
vine dragon1601
husband1628
vine-water1736
rodding1833
rod1846
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) Psalms lxxix. 12 He straȝte out his braunchis vn to þe se & vn to þe flood his railyngis [a1425 L.V. generacioun; L. propagines].
b. The training of vines in this way. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > gardening > management of plants > [noun] > training
railinga1398
bushingc1420
training1601
espaliering1882
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 246v The wythy..is a pliaunt tree and a neisshe, and acordynge to byndynge and raylynge [L. vinciendis..et colligandis] of vynes and vyne spraye.
1495 Trevisa's Bartholomeus De Proprietatibus Rerum (de Worde) xvii. xviii. sig. D iv This tree is more lyke to a vine then to Mircus. And fyllyth the mountayns & spredyth as a vyne wythout raylyng & vndersettinge of bowes [a1398 BL Add. traylynge].
c. A rail or stake used to support vines. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1428 in J. B. Heath Some Acct. Worshipful Company of Grocers (1869) 6 For costages of the gardyne 4s. 8d. and..for making of the Erber, carvyng newe rayling off alle the vynes and gardyne £8 8. 7.
1432 in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt Bk. London Eng. (1931) 214 (MED) Item, a Herry Gardener pur Raylynges.
2.
a. A rail fence, esp. one of metal; a fence or barrier constructed of rail; (also) a handrail. Also in extended use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > that which or one who closes or shuts > a barrier > [noun] > hedge or fence > a fence > railing
railing1440
rail1541
railings1798
Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 422 Raylynge, reticacio.
1469–70 in J. T. Fowler Extracts Acct. Rolls Abbey of Durham (1898) I. 93 (MED) Le Ralyng 100 rod. apud Beaurepair ex parte boriali de le logehill.
1471–2 in J. T. Fowler Extracts Acct. Rolls Abbey of Durham (1898) I. 94 Pro factura 64 rod' del Ralyng descendendo ab Holynside usque aquam de Broun.
1777 in C. R. Lounsbury Illustr. Gloss. Early Southern Archit. & Landscape (1994) 304 Surrounded with a neat Iron Railing.
1792 C. Smith Desmond I. Let. xii I leaned upon the railing which..forms a clumsy sort of balcony to every window.
1826 W. Scott Woodstock I. i. 5 The gilded railing, which was once around it, was broken down.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. xviii. 125 From roof to ledge stretched a railing of cylindrical icicles.
1909 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Avonlea xxviii. 343 Charlotta has forgotten to dust the stair railing again.
1931 W. Faulkner Sanctuary xxxi. 366 It was a self-serve place, where the customers moved slowly along a railing in single file.
1962 I. Urwin Indian Sculpt. 21 The railing round the pillar is typically Indian.
2002 G. Thomas & M. Dillon Assassination Robert Maxwell (2003) vi. 342 If, however, the deceased had deliberately climbed over the railing so that he stood on the protrusion of the outer hull, it is possible he could have slipped from this while holding onto the railing with his left hand.
b. The action of erecting rail fences, or of enclosing ground with a rail fence. Frequently with adverbs, as railing-in, railing off.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > enclosing or enclosure > [noun] > with railing
railing?a1450
cancellating1653
society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > building or providing with specific parts > [noun] > constructing or enclosing with fences
railing?a1450
paling?1469
stowering1557
fencing1628
palisading1729
impalement1828
staking1897
?a1450 in W. G. Benham Oath Bk. Colchester (1907) 2 Ye shall enfourme us who hath made..all pourprestures made upon land or watyr, or reylyng up of dowles, streityng of the Kyng's hieth way..to the noyance of the Kyngs people.
1543 Act 35 Hen. VIII c. 17 § 6 To..take any of the same [coppies woodes] for palyng raylyng or enclosing of parkes.
1562 Act 5 Eliz. c. 4 §15 What Wages every Workman..shall take..for Ditching, Paving, Railing or Hedging, by the Rod, Pearch,..Rope or Foot.
1587 in W. H. Stevenson Rec. Borough Nottingham (1889) IV. 216 We present the Bull Ringe to want raylinge.
1641 J. Milton Reason Church-govt. 54 The railing in of a repugnant and contradictive Mount Sinai in the Gospell.
1679–88 in J. Y. Akerman Moneys Secret Services Charles II & James II (1851) (Camden) 139 Expended in..rayling and paleing in Bushy Parke.
1786 Daily Universal Reg. 16 Feb. 2/3 The railing in of the pit..militates with these privileges, and should never be permitted, except on charity benefits.
1867 W. H. D. Longstaffe in Mem. Ambrose Barnes 320 I need not enter into the history of the modern usages at the communion, the railing off of the table, and such matters.
1902 Times 24 Oct. 7/4 This was nothing more serious than the failure of the Irish Executive to order the railing-in of the Custom-house steps at Belfast.
1950 T. H. Banks Milton's Imagery vi. 183 Another hotly disputed practice was the railing off of the altar.
1999 J. Walter Understanding Pop. Violence in Eng. Revol. iii. vi. 219 In several Ipswich parishes the railing in of the communion table seems to have been the signal for a more marked celebration of ‘Gunpowder Treason Day’.
c. Material for use as rails or railings.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > types of material generally > [noun] > material for other specific purposes
screen cloth1603
wadding1627
heading1650
fusive1678
graving stuff1702
pounce1728
railing1740
retarder1753
seating1790
shelving1817
bending1823
shafting1825
wedging1825
rubber sheet1842
facing1843
piston packing1857
sheathing1859
screeding1864
paint1875
sleeving1923
landfill1969
presoak1969
1740 M. Clare Youth's Introd. Trade & Business (ed. 5) 123 If 20 Foot of Iron Railing shall weigh half a Ton, when the Bars are an Inch and a Quarter square, what will 50 Feet of Ditto come to?
1779 B. Talbot New Art of Land Measuring ix. 243 But the same length of railing that fences the horizontal line, will not fence over the hill.
1812 J. Sinclair Acct. Syst. Husbandry Scotl. 336 Railing must be nailed across the boss..but when railing is not at hand, a strong straw rope is commonly used in its stead.
1852 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. July 79/2 Men had brought marble and railing from Paris.
1899 Indiana County Gaz. 1 Feb. (advt.) There they would learn that Hastings sells good pine flooring and siding..good mouldings, good railing, pickets and fencing.
1934 Van Nuys (Calif.) News 24 Dec. 5/3 Pipe and fittings. 50 feet 1½ inch brass railing.
2000 J. El-Hai Lost Minnesota 35 A Wisconsin construction company picked up 350 feet of railing for use in a Hudson motel.
d. In plural. A fence or barrier made of upright posts and horizontal rails; (also occasionally in singular) a rail-post. Cf. sense 2a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > that which or one who closes or shuts > a barrier > [noun] > hedge or fence > a fence > railing
railing1440
rail1541
railings1798
1798 Weekly Museum (N.Y.) 5 May 4/3 (advt.) Plans and Elevations of Houses, Fence Posts and Railings.
1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin I. xii. 183 Tom..stood listlessly gazing over the railings.
1881 A. Trollope Ayala's Angel I. xvii. 208 Suddenly a young man, leaning over the railings, took off his hat.
1904 L. F. Baum Marvelous Land of Oz xxii. 273 It was piled high with cushions covered with rose-colored silk, and from a golden railing above hung many folds of pink gossamer.
1951 R. Macauley in H. Brickell O. Henry Prize Stories of 1951 191 He wrenched at one of the 2x4 railings and the rotted thing came away with the pull.
1992 D. Morgan Rising in West i. i. 9 Driving a car down a hill in eastern Oklahoma once, the brakes locked and he took out several railings on the bridge at the bottom.
2006 Evening Chron. (Newcastle) (Nexis) 3 Oct. 11 People in the area say children often climb over the railings to play on the land.
3. The action of fishing for mackerel over the side of a boat.Earliest in railing-line n. at Compounds.
ΚΠ
1626 J. Smith Accidence Young Sea-men 5 Rayling lines for Mackerell.
1866 J. G. Nall Great Yarmouth & Lowestoft 311 The line is thrown overboard a vessel in full sail, and towed rapidly along, a leaden plummet keeping it below the surface of the water. Few things are more exhilarating than this sport of ‘railing’ as it is termed.
1960 A. O. D. Claxton Suffolk Dial. 20th Cent. (ed. 2) 63/2 Railin(g), fishing for mackerel.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > road laid with parallel planks, slabs, or rails > [noun] > laid with rails > rail > set or line of
line1825
railing1825
metal1842
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 655 The railing must..be set out in levels, or in lines nearly level.
5. Windsurfing. The action of sailing the board with only one side edge in the water. Cf. rail n.2 6.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > water sports except racing > surfing > [noun] > actions of surfer
kick-out1801
ride1883
side-slip1913
surf1917
slide1935
pull-out1957
quasimodo1960
head dip1962
nose-riding1962
rolling1962
spinner1962
stalling1962
toes over1962
cutback1963
Eskimo roll1964
re-entry1968
right1968
rollercoaster1968
barrel roll1971
hold-down1982
railing1983
cross-stepping1990
cross-step1994
turtle roll2001
1983 J. Evans Compl. Guide Windsurfing 87/3 A very different technique—‘railing’—becomes necessary.
1985 M. Hall Sports Illustr. Boardsailing Gloss. 219 Railing, putting one rail or the other down into the water either purposely to help steer the board, or by accident when out of control.
1992 Windsurfing June 28/1 Although it's true that railing is less effective on today's long race boards, it can still work well in certain conditions.
Compounds
ΚΠ
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1969) Isa. xvi. 8 Þe lordis of jentilis hewen doun his scourgis; vn to Jaser þei fulcamen..his railing braunchis [a1425 L.V. bowis; L. propagines] ben forsaken, þei passeden þe se.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > fishing-line > [noun] > hand-line
handline1417
railing-line1626
1626Rayling lines [see sense 3].
1883 Great Internat. Fisheries Exhib. Catal. 12 Handlines and Long Lines..railing Lines for Mackerel.
railing tackle n. the fishing gear used when fishing for mackerel over the side of a boat with a handline.
ΚΠ
1909 Westm. Gaz. 7 Sept. 10/3 Bass are numerous at Ramsgate, Margate, Newhaven, and Eastbourne, and many have been caught, as also numerous mackerel, secured on railing or spinning tackle.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
railingn.2
/ˈreɪlɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈreɪlɪŋ/ 1. The action of rail v.5; abuse, invective, persistent complaint.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > invective or abuse > [noun]
balec1220
ordurec1390
revile1439
brawlingc1440
railing1466
opprobry?a1475
revilingc1475
vituperation1481
vituper1484
vitupery1489
convicy1526
abusion?1530
blasphemation1533
pelta1540
oblatration?1552
words of mischief1555
abuse1559
inveighing1568
invection1590
revilement1590
invective1602
opprobration1623
invecture1633
thunder and lightning1638
raillery1669
rattlinga1677
blackguarding1742
pillory1770
slang1805
slangwhanging1809
bullyragging1820
slanging1856
bespattering1862
bespatterment1870
bad-mouthing1939
bad mouth1947
slagging1956
flak1968
verbal1970
handbagging1987
pelters1992
1466 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 433 Iff Clopton ore Hygham..be besy, prese in to my lorde byffor the[m]..and tell the raylyng, prayng them [etc.].
a1533 J. Frith Against Rastel (?1535–6) sig. Biiiv He recountethe it to be raylinge gestynge and scoldinge.
c1580 Sir P. Sidney tr. Psalmes David xxxi. vii I understand what railing greate men spredd.
1637 Earl of Rothes Affairs Kirk Scotl. (1830) App. 199 The confused multitude..furiouslie pursued after him with railing.
1681 J. Dryden Absalom & Achitophel 17 Rayling and praising were his usual Theams.
1753 L. M. tr. J. Du Bosc Accomplish'd Woman I. 228 Socrates was naturally given to jeer and railing.
1769 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) I. xviii. 121 Railing is usually a relief to the mind.
1795 H. Cowley Town before You III. iv. 53 I dislike the vulgar railing against the haughtiness of conscious beauty.
1873 W. H. Dixon Hist. Two Queens II. xi. vi. 255 He was proof against the railing of a mob.
1916 J. Joyce Portrait of Artist v. 259 His anger against her found vent in coarse railing at her paramour.
1963 F. H. Moore Nobler Pleasure vi. 146 There is in Limberham no single outstanding pillar of virtue comparable to Manly, who does most of the railing against vice and folly in Wycherley's play.
1990 Industryweek 5 Nov. 30/1 The resisting, railing, and refusing of lower-level managers to actively support change has been widely misinterpreted.
2. An instance of railing; a rant, a taunt. Usually in plural.
ΚΠ
1526 Bible (Tyndale) 1 Tim. vi. 4 Stryfe, realinges [1534 raylinges], evyll surmysinges.
1576 A. Fleming tr. C. Hegendorphinus in Panoplie Epist. 383 His opprobrious speaches, and rascallike raylinges.
1612 T. Taylor Αρχὴν Ἁπάντων: Comm. Epist. Paul to Titus ii. 8 Hee heard raylings and reproaches of many.
1658 E. Phillips New World Eng. Words Insectation, a railing against, as it were a following and prosecuting with evil language.
1663 J. Mayne in tr. Lucian Part of Lucian Ep. Ded. sig. A6v Rude, un-manlike Raylings; which concluded in a Civil Warre.
a1704 T. Brown Ess. Satire Ancients in Wks. (1730) I. 17 The gall, the railings..which made these satires take with so much applause.
1788 A. Hamilton Federalist Papers xxxiii. 201 Moderation itself can scarcely listen to the railings which have been so copiously vented.
1836 Times 6 June 4/3 This agitator too, as well became him, launched out into superfluous railings against tithe by name, as a noxious tax.
1854 T. B. Macaulay Biogr. (1867) 30 It does not appear..from the railings of his enemies, that he ever was drunk in his life.
1889 ‘M. Twain’ Connecticut Yankee xvi. 193 Her tongue churned forth only railings and insult.
1930 W. Connely Brawny Wycherley 23 Angélique, for all her railings against matrimony, was married to the Comte de Grignan in April, 1658.
1998 K. S. Isaacs Uses of Emotion ii. ix. 169 It was as a complaint to God...It was a railing against fate for the fights and arguments he got himself into.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
railingadj.1
/ˈreɪlɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈreɪlɪŋ/ Characterized by or given to railing; that rails; abusive, ranting, complaining.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > invective or abuse > [adjective]
opprobriousc1410
invective1430
railinga1470
shameful?a1513
convicious1530
reviling1534
inveighing1568
abusing1586
vituperatory1586
vituperous1588
vituperious1604
abusive1608
invectory1608
conviciatory1611
abuseful1612
conviciating1628
vituperative1727
vituperatious1797
slangwhanging1809
opprobratory1833
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 742 All this langayge sir Dynadan sayde because he wolde angur sir Trystram..for thys entente sir Dynadan seyde all this raylynge langage ayenste sir Trystram.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Jude 9 Michael..durst nott geve raylynge sentence.
1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes iii, in Wks. 223/1 A foolish raylyng boke against the clergy, and much part made in ryme.
c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme lxxiv. 51 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 97 The wrong Of thy reuiling railing foe.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 143 Those two prouerbes of holy Scripture..conuince, that they [sc. dogs] are emblems of vile, cursed, rayling, and filthy men.
1697 K. Chetwood Life Virgil in J. Dryden tr. Virgil Wks. sig. **2 The railing Eloquence of Cicero in his Phillipics.
1717 J. Peirce Vindic. of Dissenters i. 279 No railing writer ever fil'd his papers with so many malicious invectives against any private adversary.
1758 J. Wesley Let. 24 Aug. (1931) IV. 25 Suppose you was an Atheist, I would not bring against you a railing accusation.
1821 Ld. Byron Sardanapalus i. ii. 13 The railing drunkards! why, what would they have?
1848 A. Brontë Tenant of Wildfell Hall II. ii. 27 Every page stuffed full of railing accusations, bitter curses, and lamentable complaints.
1929 J. B. Priestley Eng. Humour ix.179 How excellent too are Hostess Quickly, who for ever wavers between a love of mirth and easy living and a desire to be thought respectable..and her companion, Doll Tearsheet, with her pretended delicacy and loud railing tongue.
1966 K. M. Rogers Troublesome Helpmate (1968) i. 20 Railing Xanthippe who emptied dirty water on Socrates' head.
2001 Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) (Nexis) 18 May (Friday Mag.) 7 Perhaps they quote Robert Duvall's great, railing speech from ‘The Apostle’, the one that goes, ‘I'm mad at you, God! I am mad at YOU!’
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† railingadj.2
Obsolete.
Flowing, esp. fast-flowing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > liquid flow > action or process of flowing > [adjective] > copiously or suddenly
wellingc1400
railinga1470
flushing?1548
washing1560
streaming1579
gushing1582
fluenta1592
teeming1627
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > discharge or flux > [adjective] > of blood > bleeding
bloodyOE
bleedinga1250
railinga1470
sanguinolent1598
sanguifluous1684
haemorrhagious1753
weltering1816
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 222 The raylyng bloode felle doune to his feete.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. iv. sig. Ff7v In stead of rest thou lendest rayling teares.
1761 J. Armstrong Day 6 Every rural Sound improves the Breeze; The railing Stream, the busy Rooks, and Murmur of the Bees.
1886 R. Burton Arabian Nights xxviii He urged his she-mule, which started off like racing wind or railing water, and in the twinkling of an eye made the mound.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online June 2018).
railingadj.3
/ˈreɪlɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈreɪlɪŋ/ Rattling.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > repeated sound or succession of sounds > [adjective] > rattling
rattlinga1398
brattling1820
railing1843
rattlesome1861
rattly1881
1843 Ohio Repository 23 Mar. It commenced on the morning of the 8th, ten minutes before eleven, with a tremendous railing noise.
1844 C. J. Lever Tom Burke II. lxxi. 163 The railing crash of falling branches, and the deep baying of the storm.
2004 Sunday Star-Times (Auckland, N.Z.) (Nexis) 18 July 7 Astonishingly, when the corpse was brought to surgeons for dissection after the execution they heard a railing sound in the throat.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1a1382
n.21466
adj.1a1470
adj.2a1470
adj.31843