handrail, handrailing

[Eng. hand, and rail. A rail or railing by which to hold; as (1) The horizontal rail of a balcony, a baluster, on a stairs, or along the sides of a locomotive engine, to protect the engineer in going to and fro on the engine. (2) Also on the companion and quarter-deck ladders, on the break of the poop, quarter-deck, or forecastle, permanent gangway ladders, .