Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RAIL, v.i. [D. rallen, to jabber; Sp. ralla, to grate, to molest; Port. ralhar, to swagger, to hector, to huff, to scold. This corresponds nearly with the G. prahlen, which may be the same word with a prefix, Eng. to brawl, Fr. brailler; Sw. ralla, to prate; Fr. railler, to rally. In Dan. driller signifies to drill and to banter.]

To utter reproaches; to scoff; to use insolent and reproachful language; to reproach or censure in opprobrious terms; followed by at or against, formerly by on. – Shak. And rail at arts he did not understand. – Dryden. Lesbia forever on the rails. – Swift.