railroad
UK: ˈreɪlrəʊd | US: ˈreɪlroʊd
n. 1. A track or set of tracks made of steel rails along which trains run.
vt. 2. To force something to be approved or completed hastily, often without proper consideration.
vt. 3. (Historical) To convict someone hastily or unfairly, especially through biased legal proceedings.
The word "railroad" combines "rail" (from Old French reille, meaning "bar" or "rod") and "road" (from Old English rād, meaning "riding" or "path"). It emerged in the early 19th century to describe tracks with iron rails for trains, replacing earlier terms like "tramroad." The verb sense (2) arose metaphorically in the mid-1800s, likening rushed actions to a fast-moving train, while sense (3) reflects 19th-century slang for unjust legal proceedings, evoking the idea of being "run over" by the system.
The transcontinental railroad connected the eastern and western United States in 1869.
Critics accused the government of trying to railroad the bill through Congress without debate.
Many innocent people were railroaded into prison during the witch trials.
The old railroad tracks have been converted into a scenic biking trail.
The company plans to railroad the project to meet the tight deadline.