who laid the rail
adv. phr.— «The animal struck out on a dead run down the turning row which split the ravine. My friend followed, and it was a race for who laid the rail, as they say in the country.» —New Orleans Times-Democrat (Lousiana) Dec. 23, 1901. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
In our earlier conversation about the term clam, which musicians use to refer to a “missed note” or “musical mistake,” Martha misspoke and said a similar term was used in rowing and sculling. Actually, as many listeners...
Secret signals on the job: Waitresses at some 19th-century restaurants ensured speedy drink service by communicating with a non-verbal code. One server took orders, then placed each customer’s cup to indicate exactly what the customer wanted...