siding

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *seh₁-der. Proto-Germanic *sīdaz Proto-Germanic *sīdǭ Old English sīde Middle English side English side English -ing English siding From side + -ing (“derivative noun, having the quality of”).

1. A second, relatively short length of track just to the side of a railroad track, joined to the main track by switches at one or both ends, used either for loading or unloading freight, storing trains or other rail vehicles; or to allow two trains on a same track to meet (opposite directions) or pass (same direction) (the latter sense is probably an American definition).

   “They slept where they could, sometimes in an empty truck on a siding near the station, sometimes in a cart behind a warehouse; [...]”

   “Laid out over six square kilometres, Sellafield is like a small town, with nearly a thousand buildings, its own roads and even a rail siding – all owned by the government, and requiring security clearance to visit.”

verb

1. present participle and gerund of side

   “Whenever he hears an argument, he can't help siding with one party or the other.”