from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Rail \Rail\, n. [F. r[^a]le, fr. r[^a]ler to have a rattling in
the throat; of German origin, and akin to E. rattle. See
{Rattle}, v.] (Zool.)
Any one of numerous species of limicoline birds of the family
{Rallidae}, especially those of the genus {Rallus}, and of
closely allied genera. They are prized as game birds.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The common European water rail ({Rallus aquaticus}) is
called also {bilcock}, {skitty coot}, and {brook
runner}. The best known American species are the
clapper rail, or salt-marsh hen ({Rallus longirostris},
var. crepitans); the king, or red-breasted, rail
({Rallus elegans}) (called also {fresh-water
marshhen}); the lesser clapper, or Virginia, rail
({Rallus Virginianus}); and the Carolina, or sora, rail
({Porzana Carolina}). See {Sora}.
[1913 Webster]
{Land rail} (Zool.), the corncrake.
[1913 Webster]