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chair rail

American  

noun

  1. a molding on an interior wall for preventing the backs of chairs from rubbing against plaster.


Etymology

Origin of chair rail

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

“I used peel-and-stick wallpaper, Tempaper & Co. paintable wallpaper and a faux flexible chair rail to transform this space. The floors are black-and-white checkered peel-and-stick vinyl. I wanted it to feel over the top.”

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 4, 2024

A skimpy stained chair rail can look unsubstantial and dated.

From Washington Post Mar. 2, 2022

Elsewhere, he hung a small print under the chair rail.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 1, 2015

Install them floor to ceiling or only halfway up as a wainscot, then cap it with a wood chair rail.

From Time Mar. 12, 2015

The central passage, paneled to chair rail height and plastered above, was as dark as night when all the doors were closed.

From The Stronghold A Story of Historic Northern Neck of Virginia and Its People by Haynie, Miriam

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