chair rail

noun

plural chair rails
: a molding on a wall around a room to protect the wall from being damaged by the backs of chairs
… had removed the chair rail, thereby eliminating the dado effect …—Elizabeth Lambert

Examples of chair rail in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Try applying wallpaper to a single accent wall or just the portion above a chair rail. — Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 8 July 2026 Below a chair rail in this hall and stairway are raised panel inserts, while an elaborate crown molding adds beauty and elegance. — James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026 The wainscoting started at the base of the wall and went up to a chair rail height. — Sirena Bergman, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chair rail

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chair rail was in 1798

Rhymes for chair rail

See All Rhymes for chair rail

Browse Nearby Words

chair post
chair rail
chair swing
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chair rail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chair%20rail. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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