Paling vs. Railing — What's the Difference?

Paling is a surname.

A fence or barrier made of rails

One of a row of upright pointed sticks forming a fence; a pale.

A structure made of a rail, often connecting a series of upright members, that is used as a guard or barrier or for support, as on a balcony or next to a staircase.

Pointed sticks used in making fences; pales.

The rail of such a structure.

A fence made of pales or pickets.

Rails considered as a group.

Present participle of pale

A fence or barrier consisting of one or more horizontal rails and vertical supports.

A pointed stick used to make a fence.

Present participle of rail

A fence made of palings.

Expressing reproach; insulting.

(Caribbean) A fence made of galvanized sheeting.

A barrier made of a rail or of rails, together with vertical supports. The typical railing in the interior of structures or on porches has a horizontal rail near waist height, and multiple vertical supports. Its function is usually to provide a safety barrier at the edge of a verticle drop to prevent falls.

Pales, in general; a fence formed with pales or pickets; a limit; an inclosure.

Rails in general; also, material for making rails.

The act of placing pales or stripes on cloth; also, the stripes themselves.

A barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports

A fence made of upright pickets

Material for making rails or rails collectively