railing

American  

[rey-ling] / ˈreɪ lɪŋ /

noun

1. a fencelike barrier composed of one or more horizontal rails supported by widely spaced uprights; balustrade.

2. banister.

3. rails collectively.

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railing British  

/ ˈreɪlɪŋ /

noun

1. (often plural) a fence, balustrade, or barrier that consists of rails supported by posts

2. rails collectively or material for making rails

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Etymology

Origin of railing

First recorded in 1350–1400; rail ¹ + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Designed with a curved railing that spins at the touch of a button, the closet became one of the most recognizable features in the teen’s room throughout the show.

From MarketWatch

I tip the cup over the railing, watch the blue cube slide out and bounce off the bushes, landing in the snow-covered garden beneath.

From Literature

Instead, your last week coincided with the publication of a New York Times profile of you railing at enemies while downing coffee at a burger bar in El Centro.

From Los Angeles Times

But when the basement lights were off and the others were distracted, a four-year-old could hide on the stairs and peep over the railing to see all of “Titanic,” rated PG-13 by the way.

From The Wall Street Journal

Supporters scaled railings and sat on the top of bus shelters as their struggling side arrived to face relegation rivals Nottingham Forest.

From BBC

Related Words

• barrier
• fence
• pole
• rail
• rails
• siding