Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

†RAIL, n.² Also dims. rail(l)ie, railly; raillach, raillich.

1. A woman's short-sleeved front or over-bodice worn on dress occasions (Sc. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis s.v. Ralis). Obs. in Eng.Wgt. 1702 G. Fraser Lowland Lore 25:
They saw the said William Thomson tear the said Elizabeth Calbreath her raill.Sc. 1818 Scott Bride of Lamm. xii.:
What's the colour o' her hair? — and does she wear a habit or a railly.Slk. 1820 Hogg Tales (1874) 103:
She was dressed in a plain white rail.Edb. 1826 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 297:
But noo I'm grown a gentleman, — my wife she wears a railie.Sc. 1827 C. I. Johnstone Eliz. de Bruce II. viii.:
My silken railie, my gold-laced green Joseph, I got frae Lady 'Lizbeth de Bruce.Sc. a.1873 E.D.D.:
Rail. A kind of half-shift, consisting of breast and sleeves, made of finer linen than that daily worn, and put on over the ordinary shift, when the person went to Kirk on Sundays, or on any other occasion of being dressed. To wear a rail was considered as a mark of wealth formerly.

2. “The upper portion of an infant's nightdress” (Ayr. 1880 Jam.).

3. A thin, flimsy, worthless piece of material; a cheap flimsy dress (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 138).Gregor 76:
The tinkler wife wee nae a rag on, bit ae bit aul', torn quyttie an' a raillach o' a shall.