Gunwale

Gunwale

The gunwale (pronEng|ˈɡʌnəl "gunnel" to rhyme with "tunnel") is a nautical term describing the top edge of the side of a boat.

"Wale" is the same word as the skin injury, a "weal", which, too, forms a ridge. Originally the gunwale was the "Gun ridge" on a sailing warship. This represented the strengthening wale or structural band added to the design of the ship, at and above the level of a gun deck. It was designed to accommodate the stresses imposed by the use of artillery.

In wooden boats, the gunwale remained, mounted inboard of the sheer strake, regardless of the use of gunnery. In modern boats, it is the top edge of the side where there is usually some form of stiffening.

On a canoe, the gunwale is typically the widened edge at the top of the side of the boat, where the edge is reinforced with wood, plastic or aluminum.

On a rowing boat (especially in sports), the gunwale is sometimes referred to as the saxboard.


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  • Gunwale — Gun wale, n. [Gun + wale. So named because the upper guns were pointed from it.] (Naut.) The upper edge of a vessel s or boat s side; the uppermost wale of a ship (not including the bulwarks); or that piece of timber which reaches on either side… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • gunwale — mid 15c., gonne walle, from GUN (Cf. gun) + wale plank (see WALE (Cf. wale)). Originally a platform on the deck of a ship to support the mounted guns …   Etymology dictionary

  • gunwale — meaning ‘the upper edge of a ship s side’, is pronounced gun ǝl …   Modern English usage

  • gunwale — (also gunnel) ► NOUN ▪ the upper edge or planking of the side of a boat. ● to the gunwales Cf. ↑to the gunwales ORIGIN from GUN(Cf. ↑gun) + WALE(Cf. ↑wale) (b …   English terms dictionary

  • gunwale — [gun′əl] n. [LME gonne walle (see GUN & WALE1): first applied to bulwarks supporting a ship s guns] the upper edge of the side of a ship or boat …   English World dictionary

  • gunwale — UK [ˈɡʌn(ə)l] / US noun [countable] Word forms gunwale : singular gunwale plural gunwales the upper edge of the side of a boat or ship • full to the gunwales …   English dictionary

  • gunwale to — phrasal see gunwale down …   Useful english dictionary

  • gunwale down — phrasal or gunwale to : tipping or sinking until the gunwale is on a level with the water …   Useful english dictionary

  • gunwale — also gunnel noun Etymology: Middle English gonne wale, from gonne gun + 1wale; from its former use as a support for guns Date: 15th century the upper edge of a ship s or boat s side …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • gunwale — /gun l/, n. Naut. 1. the upper edge of the side or bulwark of a vessel. 2. the sheer strake of a wooden vessel; the uppermost strake beneath the plank sheer. Also, gunnel. [1325 75; ME. See GUN1, WALE1; a plank so called because guns were set… …   Universalium

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