fife rail

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fife rail

n.
A rail around the lower part of a ship's mast to which the belaying pins for the rigging are secured.
[Possibly from its use by the ship's fifer.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

fife rail

n
(Nautical Terms) nautical a rail at the base of a mast of a sailing vessel, fitted with pins for belaying running rigging. Compare pin rail
[C18: of unknown origin]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

fife′ rail`



n.
a rail on a sailing vessel where belaying pins are inserted.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.fife rail - the railing surrounding the mast of a sailing vessel
rail, railing - a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
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References in periodicals archive
How it's used: Framing, "compass timbers" or curved beams, breasthooks in the cutwater area, pin rails, and fife rails.
Restoring Old Ironsides
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