railway English · revision 5152

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1776|origins=en rail, en way}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈreɪl.weɪ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a compound of [[rail]] and [[way]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A road laid with rails, originally of wood, on which wagons could run more easily: 1776 in the OED and Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) MWU dates its first known use to 1681.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The modern sense, a track of iron or steel rails on which trains run, is from 1812.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Compounds such as ''railway accident'' and ''railway station'' are from 1837,^(OED 1989) and the verb, to travel by rail, from 1839.^(OED 1989) It is chiefly British.^(COED 2004)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1681 – first known use.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1776 – a road laid with rails.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1812 – a railway for trains.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1839 – verb, to travel by rail.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(chiefly British)'' A track of rails on which trains run.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+ # A system of such tracks, with its trains, stations and organization.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+ # A track for wheeled equipment, as in a factory.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[railwayed]]

+ * [[railwayless]]

+ * [[interrailway]]

+ * [[prerailway]]

+ * [[aerial railway]]

+ * [[elevated railway]]

+ * [[street railway]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[rail]]

+ * [[way]]

+ * [[railroad]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}