wale

Meaning

Noun

1. A ridge or low barrier.
2. A raised rib in knitted goods or fabric, especially corduroy.
3. The texture of a piece of fabric.
4. A horizontal ridge or ledge on the outside planking of a wooden ship. (See gunwale, chainwale)
5. A horizontal timber used for supporting or retaining earth.
6. A timber bolted to a row of piles to secure them together and in position.
7. A ridge on the outside of a horse collar.
8. A ridge or streak produced on skin by a cane or whip.

Verb

1. To strike the skin in such a way as to produce a wale or welt.
2. To beat a person, especially as punishment or out of anger.
3. To give a surface a texture of wales or welts.

Verb

To choose, select.

Synonyms

wheal

weal

welt

wash-board

strake

stripe

ridge

gunwale

fluting

flyer

groove

gunnel

select

streak

stria

striation

swelling

waler

waling

wart

whale

🐳

whip

strut rail

choose

flying-shore

bend

brink

bulwark

callus

choice

flier

flute

🪈

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈweɪl/

Etymology

The noun is from Middle English wāle (“planking, welt”), from Old English walu (“ridge, bank; rib, comb (of helmet); metal ridge on top of helmet; weal, mark of a blow”), from Proto-Germanic *waluz (“stick, root”), from Proto-Indo-European *welH- (“to turn, wind, roll”). Akin to Low German wāle; Old Norse vala (“knuckle”). The verb is from late Middle English wālen, from the noun.