A person who splits wood for rails, especially for use in fencing. Frequently in "the (great,also old) rail-splitter": Abraham Lincoln. Hence: = "republican".
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in William Simms (1806–1870), poet, novelist, and historian. From rail + splitter.
Definition of rail-splitter in US English:
rail-splitter
nounˈreɪlˌsplɪtə
US
A person who splits wood for rails, especially for use in fencing. Frequently in "the (great,also old) rail-splitter": Abraham Lincoln. Hence: = "republican".
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in William Simms (1806–1870), poet, novelist, and historian. From rail + splitter.