SIDETRACK

siding, railroad siding, turnout, sidetrack

(noun) a short stretch of railroad track used to store rolling stock or enable trains on the same line to pass

sidetrack, depart, digress, straggle

(verb) wander from a direct or straight course

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

sidetrack (plural sidetracks)

(rail transport) A second, relatively short length of track just to the side of a railroad track, joined to the main track by switches at one or both ends, used either for unloading freight, or to allow two trains on a same track to meet (opposite directions) or pass (same direction); a railroad siding.

(sometimes) Any auxiliary railroad track, as differentiated from a siding, that runs adjacent to the main track.

(mining) A smaller tunnel or well drilled as an auxiliary off a main tunnel or well.

An alternate train of thought, issue, topic, or activity, that is a deviation or distraction from the topic at hand or central activity, and secondary or subordinate in importance or effectiveness.

Synonyms

• (small railroad track for unloading, passing): railroad siding, siding, lay-by (UK)

Verb

sidetrack (third-person singular simple present sidetracks, present participle sidetracking, simple past and past participle sidetracked)

To divert (a locomotive) on to a lesser used track in order to allow other trains to pass.

To divert or distract (someone) from a main issue or course of action with an alternate or less relevant topic or activity; or, to use deliberate trickery or sly wordplay when talking to (a person) in order to avoid discussion of a subject.

To sideline; to push aside; to divert or distract from, reducing (something) to a secondary or subordinate position.

(intransitive) To deviate briefly from the topic at hand.

Synonyms

• (deviate from the topic at hand): digress

Anagrams

• Kardecist, dirt cakes, trackside

Source: Wiktionary

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Side"track`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sidetracked; p. pr. & vb. n. Sidetracking.]

1. (Railroads) To transfer to a siding from a main line of track.

2. Hence, fig., to divert or reduce to a position or condition that is relatively secondary or subordinate in activity, importance, effectiveness, or the like; to switch off; to turn aside, as from a purpose. [Colloq.]

Such a project was, in fact, sidetracked in favor of the census of school children. Pop. Sci. Monthly.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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