taffrail
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Taffrail — Taff rail, n. [D. tafereel a panel, picture, fr. tafel table, fr. L. tabula. See {Table}.] (Naut.) The upper part of a ship s stern, which is flat like a table on the top, and sometimes ornamented with carved work; the rail around a ship s stern … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
taffrail — (n.) 1814, alteration of tafferel upper panel on the stern of a ship (often ornamented) (1704), earlier, a carved panel (1620s), from Du. tafereel panel for painting or carving, dissimulation from *tafeleel, dim. of tafel table, from the general… … Etymology dictionary
taffrail — ► NOUN ▪ a rail round a ship s stern. ORIGIN from obsolete tafferel «panel», used to denote the flat part of a ship s stern above the transom, from Dutch tafereel … English terms dictionary
taffrail — [taf′rāl΄] n. [altered (infl. by RAIL1) < TAFFEREL] the rail around the stern of a ship … English World dictionary
Taffrail — A Taffrail is the aftermost railing around the stern of a ship, often, but not always, ornately carved. A taffrail log is an object dragged from the stern of the vessel to calculate the vessel s speed through the water. External references *… … Wikipedia
taffrail log — noun a cigar shaped log with rotary fins that measure the ship s speed • Syn: ↑patent log, ↑screw log • Hypernyms: ↑log * * * noun : a log that is mounted on the taffrail of a ship and consists of a rotator, log line, and recording device co … Useful english dictionary
taffrail — noun Etymology: modification of Dutch tafereel, from Middle Dutch, panel, from Old French tablel more at tableau Date: circa 1704 1. the upper part of the stern of a wooden ship 2. a rail around the stern of a ship … New Collegiate Dictionary
taffrail — /taf rayl , reuhl/, n. Naut. 1. the upper part of the stern of a ship. 2. a rail above the stern of a ship. [1805 15; syncopated var. of TAFFAREL; ai sp. D ee ] * * * … Universalium
taffrail — noun a) The curved wooden top of the stern of a sailing man of war or East Indiaman, usually carved or decorated. b) The rail around the stern of a ship … Wiktionary
taffrail — n. rail around a ship s stern … English contemporary dictionary
