Definition of Third rail

1. Noun. A rail through which electric current is supplied to an electric locomotive.

Generic synonyms: Rail, Rails, Runway, Track

Definition of Third rail

1. Noun. The electrified rail that runs besides, or between train tracks to power electric trains. ¹

2. Noun. (context: by extension) anything that is dangerous to come into contact with, or is best avoided ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Third Rail

third molar
third normal form
third occipital nerve
third officer
third order stream
third ovary
third parties
third party
third party processor
third penny
third period
third peroneal muscle
third person
third power
third rail
third rails
third rate
third sacker
third session
third slip
third slips
third sound
third stage of labour
third stomach
third string
third temporal convolution
third time's a charm
third tonsil

Literary usage of Third rail

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1920)
"The third-rail system differs from the ordinary trolley road only in detail, ... In regard to the use of the third-rail system on interurban roads, ..."

2. International Library of Technology: A Series of Textbooks for Persons by International Textbook Company (1905)
"The trolley wire is replaced by a third rail mounted on insulators to ... 2 shows the arrangement of collecting shoe for an ordinary third-rail equipment. ..."

3. Flame, Electricity and the Camera: Man's Progress from the First Kindling of by George Iles (1900)
"The New York, New Haven and Hartford The Third-rail System. Railroad has inaugurated three electric lines with marked success, combining the trolley and ..."

4. Transactions of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers by American Institute of Electrical Engineers (1917)
"768 OVERHEAD CONTACT RAIL: A contact rail above the elevation of the maximum equipment line.f 769 third rail: A contact conductor placed at either side of ..."

5. Electric Railway Handbook: A Reference Book of Practice Data, Formulas and by Albert Sutton Richey, William Charles Greenough (1915)
"third rail Collector. The third rail collector has the greatest current ... 6 shows the details of the third rail collector designed for operation on ..."

6. The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature and (1911)
"Contact is made with the third rail by means of a bronze or cast-iron shoe, ... The third-rail system has been adopted in many instances where large and ..."

7. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1918)
"The latter consists of a stationary third rail of heavy iron liars running ... The bars of the third rail are perforated at regular intervals throughout ..."

8. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1918)
"The latter consists of a stationary third rail of heavy iron bars running ... The bars of the third rail are perforated at regular intervals throughout ..."

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