guard plate (gardplat)

In a blast-or cupola-furnace, a plate which closes the opening in front through which the molten metal is drawn off, and the slags, etc., are raked out. The tapping-hole is in the middle of this plate. guard-rail (gärd'ral), n. On a railway-track, an additional rail placed beside the rail in service, either with the object of receiving the wheel in case it should leave the track or of preventing the wheel from leaving the track. The trestle had only the ordinary short ties, sleepers and no guard - rails . The Engineer, LXV. 295.