rai

‖n. pl. [ NL. See Raia. ] (Zool.) The order of elasmobranch fishes which includes the sawfishes, skates, and rays; -- called also Rajae, and Rajii. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Raided; p. pr. & vb. n. Raiding. ] To make a raid upon or into; as, two regiments raided the border counties. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Icel. reið a riding, raid; akin to E. road. See Road a way. ] 1. A hostile or predatory incursion; an inroad or incursion of mounted men; a sudden and rapid invasion by a cavalry force; a foray. [ 1913 Webster ]

Marauding chief! his sole delight
The moonlight raid, the morning fight. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

There are permanent conquests, temporary occupations, and occasional raids. H. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ A Scottish word which came into common use in the United States during the Civil War, and was soon extended in its application. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An attack or invasion for the purpose of making arrests, seizing property, or plundering; as, a raid of the police upon a gambling house; a raid of contractors on the public treasury. [ Colloq. U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who engages in a raid. [ U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Economics) Designating, or pertaining to, a form of cooperative bank founded among the German agrarian population by Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen (1818-88); as, Raiffeisen banks, the Raiffeisen system, etc. The banks are unlimited-liability institutions making small loans at a low rate of interest, for a designated purpose, to worthy members only. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. i. [ Etymol. uncertain. ] To flow forth; to roll out; to course. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Streams of tears from her fair eyes forth railing. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. reil, re&yogh_;el, AS. hrægel, hrægl, a garment; akin to OHG. hregil, OFries. hreil. ] An outer cloak or covering; a neckerchief for women. Fairholt. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Akin to LG. & Sw. regel bar, bolt, G. riegel a rail, bar, or bolt, OHG. rigil, rigel, bar, bolt, and possibly to E. row a line. ] 1. A bar of timber or metal, usually horizontal or nearly so, extending from one post or support to another, as in fences, balustrades, staircases, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Arch.) A horizontal piece in a frame or paneling. See Illust. of Style. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Railroad) A bar of steel or iron, forming part of the track on which the wheels roll. It is usually shaped with reference to vertical strength, and is held in place by chairs, splices, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Naut.) (a) The stout, narrow plank that forms the top of the bulwarks. (b) The light, fencelike structures of wood or metal at the break of the deck, and elsewhere where such protection is needed. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A railroad as a means of transportation; as, to go by rail; a place not accesible by rail. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

6. a railing. [ PJC ]

Rail fence. See under Fence. --
Rail guard. (a) A device attached to the front of a locomotive on each side for clearing the rail of obstructions. (b) A guard rail. See under Guard. --
Rail joint (Railroad), a splice connecting the adjacent ends of rails, in distinction from a chair, which is merely a seat. The two devices are sometimes united. Among several hundred varieties, the fish joint is standard. See Fish joint, under Fish. --
Rail train (Iron & Steel Manuf.), a train of rolls in a rolling mill, for making rails for railroads from blooms or billets. [ 1913 Webster ]