† out-railv.1
Obsolete.
transitive. To outdo in railing; to surpass in the use of raillery.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > malediction > [verb (transitive)] > abuse, scold, or wrangle > outdo or surpass in
out-rail1625
1625 T. G. Answer to Withers Motto sig. A8 They would out-raile thee to thy very face.
1677 W. Wycherley Plain-dealer i. 9 Thou may'st easily come to..out-rail a Wit.
a1704 T. Brown Satyr upon French King in Wks. (1707) I. i. 90 He'd out-rail Oats, and Curse both thee and Bufflers.
1838 J. F. Cooper Homeward Bound I. xv. 217 He might as well have scolded against the late gale, in the expectation of out-railing the tempest, as to make such an attempt on the firm-set notions of the old seaman concerning his duty.
1876 L. Stephen Hist. Eng. Thought 18th Cent. I. iii. 178 Warburton rates him soundly for his love of Billingsgate; and Warburton himself is the only writer of the time who could outrail him.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
† out-railv.2
Obsolete.
transitive. To outdo in respect of railings.Apparently an isolated use.
ΚΠ
1866 J. Ruskin Crown Wild Olive p. xii The publichouse-keeper on the other side of the way presently buys another railing, to out-rail him with.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online September 2019).
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