Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

RAIL, n.¹, v. Sc. usages, of which I. 1. (1) and (2) however may belong equally well to Ravel, n.¹, q.v., the vocalised variants of which are not distinguishable from rail.

I. n. 1. Combs.: (1) rail-stair, a stair fitted with a railing (Abd., Lnk. 1967); (2) rail-wand, the railing of a stair (Sc. 1880 Jam. s.v. Raise-an'-Wand); (3) railwy(e), a railway (Abd. 1926 Abd. Univ. Review (March) 113; Bnff. 1956 Banffshire Jnl. (25 Sept.)). [′relwɑe](1) w.Sc. 1887 Jam.:
“A guid rail stair”, a well-railed stair, or, a good stair and railed.

2. A row of protective studs in the sole of a boot or shoe (Sc. 1887 Jam.). Cf. v., 2.Ags. 1776 C. Keith Farmer's Ha' v.:
They mak great rackets, And sent about their heels wi' rails O' clinkin tackets.Sc. 1887 Jam.:
A rail o' tackets.

3. Deriv. railie, see quot.Ags. 1964:
Railie: A game play ed on a tram rail. Small round objects are aimed at the slot of the rail — the first player to succeed gathers all the objects which have missed. Children could use washers — but a slightly older age-group used pennies and halfpennies (e.g. tramway employees standing around at the depot).

II. v. 1. To fit a stair with a hand-rail (Sc. 1887 Jam.; Abd. 1967). Hence railin, a hand-rail (Id.). Gen.Sc.

2. To protect the soles of shoes with rows of studs (Sc. 1887 Jam., to rail shoon).