taffrail(n = noun.artifact) - the railing around the stern of a ship;
is a kind of rail, railing
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. [1913 Webster]
taffrail, n. Naut. a rail round a ship's stern.
Etymology:
earlier tafferel f. Du. taffereel panel, dimin. of tafel (as TABLE): assim. to RAIL(1)