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. ] [ 1913 Webster ] 1. A streak or mark made on the skin by a rod or whip; a stripe; a wheal. See Wheal. Holland. Syn. -- welt; weal; wheal. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. A ridge or streak rising above the surface, as of cloth; hence, the texture of cloth. [ 1913 Webster ] Thou 'rt rougher far, And of a coarser wale, fuller of pride. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. (Carp.) A timber bolted to a row of piles to secure them together and in position. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] Wale knot. (Naut.) See Wall knot, under 1st Wall. [ 1913 Webster ]
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