railing
UK: ˈreɪlɪŋ | US: ˈreɪlɪŋ
n. 1. A fence or barrier made of rails and posts, typically used for safety or decoration.
n. 2. The act of speaking angrily or complaining bitterly (archaic/literary).
railing = rail<bar> + ing<noun suffix>
- rail (from Old French reille "bar, bolt," derived from Latin regula "straight stick, rule")
- ing (a suffix forming nouns, often indicating an action, material, or result)
Etymology Origin:
The word railing traces back to the Old French reille, meaning "bar" or "bolt," which itself comes from Latin regula (a straight stick or rule). Over time, rail evolved to denote a horizontal bar, and the suffix -ing was added to form a noun referring to a structure composed of such bars. The secondary meaning ("angry speech") stems from the metaphorical idea of verbal "bars" or sharp remarks.
The balcony was secured with a wrought-iron railing.
He leaned against the wooden railing to watch the parade.
(Archaic) Her constant railing against injustice made her unpopular at court.
The child gripped the railing tightly while climbing the stairs.
The architect chose a minimalist glass railing for the modern staircase.