derail

Meanings

Noun

• A device placed on railway tracks causing a train to derail.
• An instance of diverting a conversation or debate from its original topic.

Verb

• To cause to come off the tracks.
• To come off the tracks.
• To deviate from the previous course or direction.
• To cause to deviate from a set course or direction.

Related

Similar words

• unrail

Origin

• From French dérailler ("to go off the rails").