noun
rail
A marsh bird with a slender body and short wings.
A rail moves through the marsh grass.
Etymology
The bird name comes from an older French name for a rail. It is historically separate from the bar or track word despite the shared spelling.
More examples
- The birdwatcher heard a rail calling from the reeds.
- Several rails nested near the wetland.
- The rail's narrow body helped it slip through thick vegetation.
Forms
rail · rails
Similar words
- coot
- A related waterbird with a different build and behavior.