Where does “cantrail” come from?

cantrail (English) comes from English rail, from Middle English rail, from Old English regol, from Latin rēgula, from Latin -ula, from Proto-Indo-European -tlom, from Proto-Indo-European -trom, from Proto-Indo-European -tḗr — Derives agent nouns from verbs, denoting someone...

cantrail (English): A length of metal (earlier timber) supporting the outer edge of the roof of a railway carriage; also found on locomotives, buses and coaches

Definitions

  1. A length of metal (earlier timber) supporting the outer edge of the roof of a railway carriage; also found on locomotives, buses and coaches

Ancestry of “cantrail”, step by step

cantrail traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English rail

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishrailA horizontal bar extending between supports and...
2Middle Englishrail
3Old Englishregola rule; a ruler
4Latinrēgularule, bar
5Latin-ularegō + API → rēgula; tegō + API → tēgula;...
6Proto-Indo-European-tlomAlternative form of *-trom
7Proto-Indo-European-tromForms nouns denoting a tool or instrument
8Proto-Indo-European-tḗrDerives agent nouns from verbs, denoting someone...

via English cant

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcantAn argot, the jargon of a particular class or...
2Middle Englishcantbold, lively, cant
3Middle Low Germankant
4Middle Dutchkant
5Latincanthusthe iron ring around a carriage wheel; the tire;...
6Gaulishcantos
7Proto-Celticcantoscorner, rim
8Proto-Indo-Europeankh₂ndʰ
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -tḗr