Wale \Wale\, n. [AS. walu a mark of stripes or blows, probably
originally, a rod; akin to Icel. v["o]lr, Goth. walus a rod,
staff. [root]146. Cf. Goal, Weal a wale.]
1. A streak or mark made on the skin by a rod or whip; a
stripe; a wheal. See Wheal. --Holland.
2. A ridge or streak rising above the surface, as of cloth;
hence, the texture of cloth.
Thou 'rt rougher far, And of a coarser wale, fuller
of pride. --Beau & Fl.
3. (Carp.) A timber bolted to a row of piles to secure them
together and in position. --Knight.
4. (Naut.)
(a) pl. Certain sets or strakes of the outside planking of
a vessel; as, the main wales, or the strakes of
planking under the port sills of the gun deck; channel
wales, or those along the spar deck, etc.
(b) A wale knot, or wall knot.
Wale knot. (Naut.) See Wall knot, under 1st Wall.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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