Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Rail \Rail\, n. [F. r[^a]le, fr. r[^a]ler to have a rattling in
   the throat; of German origin, and akin to E. rattle. See
   {Rattle}, v.] (Zo["o]l.)
   Any one of numerous species of limicoline birds of the family
   {Rallid[ae]}, especially those of the genus {Rallus}, and of
   closely allied genera. They are prized as game birds.

   Note: The common European water rail ({Rallus aquaticus}) is
         called also {bilcock}, {skitty coot}, and {brook
         runner}. The best known American species are the
         clapper rail, or salt-marsh hen ({Rallus lonqirostris},
         var. {crepitans}); the king, or red-breasted, rail ({R.
         elegans}) (called also {fresh-water marshhen}); the
         lesser clapper, or Virginia, rail ({R. Virginianus});
         and the Carolina, or sora, rail ({Porzana Carolina}).
         See {Sora}.

   {Land rail} (Zo["o]l.), the corncrake.