Taffrail \Taff"rail\, n. [D. tafereel a panel, picture, fr. tafel table, fr. L. tabula. See Table.]

(Naut.) The upper part of a ship's stern, which is flat like a table on the top, and sometimes ornamented with carved work; the rail around a ship's stern. [Written also tafferel.]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)