TAFFRAIL

taffrail

(noun) the railing around the stern of a ship

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

taffrail (plural taffrails)

(nautical) The curved wooden top of the stern of a sailing man-of-war or East Indiaman, usually carved or decorated.

(nautical) The rail around the stern of a ship.

(nautical) The deck area at the stern of a vessel.

Source: Wiktionary

Taff"rail, n. Etym: [D. tafereel a panel, picture, fr. tafel table, fr. L. tabula. See Table.] (Naut.)

Definition: 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. [Written also tafferel.]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition