taffrail

[ taf-reyl, -ruhl ]
/ ˈtæfˌreɪl, -rəl /

noun Nautical.

the upper part of the stern of a ship.
a rail above the stern of a ship.

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Origin of taffrail

1805–15; syncopated variant of taffarel; -ai- spelling Dutch -ee-

Words nearby taffrail

TAFE, Tafelwein, taffarel, taffeta, taffeta weave, taffrail, taffy, taffy apple, tafia, Tafilelt, Taft
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for taffrail

British Dictionary definitions for taffrail

taffrail
/ (ˈtæfˌreɪl) /

noun nautical

a rail at the stern or above the transom of a vessel
the upper part of the transom of a vessel, esp a sailing vessel, often ornately decorated

Word Origin for taffrail

C19: changed (through influence of rail 1) from earlier tafferel, from Dutch taffereel panel (hence applied to the part of a vessel decorated with carved panels), variant of tafeleel (unattested), from tafel table
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012