crosstie

American

[kraws-tahy, kros-] / ˈkrɔsˌtaɪ, ˈkrɒs- /

noun

Railroads. a tie.
a transverse timber forming a foundation or support.

Other Word Forms

crosstied

adjective

Etymology

Origin of crosstie

An Americanism dating back to 1805–15; cross- + tie

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.

The White man leaving the Taylor house fled via Rosewood, stopping at the home of Aaron Carrier, a Black man who worked as a crosstie cutter, according to Jenkins, who is Aaron Carrier’s niece.

From Washington Post • Jan. 29, 2023

As he stands atop a crosstie, effectively blocking a rail shipment of coal, Chris Rowe and many other coal miners in Harlan, Ky. fret about the future.

From Fox News • Aug. 2, 2019

Southern made a survey, found that normal crosstie replacements had been made in only six of the past 26 years, politely declined.

From Time Magazine Archive

I've made this run so many times I know every crosstie and humpback.

From Time Magazine Archive

Here in Mill Town on my crosstie stage, folks would suspicion her if they saw me acting friendly.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023