reling

Reling is a German noun meaning railing, specifically the guard rail or barrier along the edge of a ship’s deck or a similar elevated edge. It serves to prevent falls and provide hand support for crew during movement on deck or when working near the rail.

In nautical contexts, relings are typically horizontal bars attached to vertical supports such as stanchions. They can be made from metal, wood, or composite materials, and their height, design, and fastening depend on vessel type and historical period. Relings are found along the weather deck, gun decks on older vessels, and along gangways or safety rails on ladders, with configurations governed by safety standards and ship design practices.

In German-language maritime literature and technical documentation, reling is the standard term for the railing itself. In English, the equivalent term is railing, though reling may appear when quoting German sources or discussing German ships in bilingual texts.

Reling may also occur as a surname in German-speaking regions. As a family name, it is relatively uncommon and reflects general Germanic naming patterns rather than a specific trade or place.

Related terms include railing, which is the general English word for a protective barrier, and gunwale, the edge of a boat where a railing may be installed.