Wale (?), n. [AS. walu a mark of stripes or blows, probably originally, a rod; akin to Icel. völr, Goth. walus a rod, staff. √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.