society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > parts of vessels > part of vessel above water > [noun] > rails or mouldings > at bow or stern (2)
pulpit1512
In extended use. Any of various structures which give the occupant a conspicuous or elevated position… Nautical †(a) The poop of a sailing ship…
pulpit rail1855
(a) a rail on a pulpit; (b) the rail forming the ‘pulpit’ on a boat (see sense 3b(c)).