wale

views updated May 14 2018

wale / wāl/ • n. 1. a ridge on a textured woven fabric such as corduroy.2. Naut. a plank running along the side of a wooden ship, thicker than the usual planking, and strengthening and protecting the hull.3. a horizontal band around a woven basket.ORIGIN: late Old English walu ‘stripe, weal.’

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

wale

views updated May 29 2018

wale weal on the flesh OE.; horizontal timber round the top of the sides of a boat XIV; raised line in a fabric XVI; ridge of a horse's collar XVIII. Late OE. walu ridge of land, etc., weal = LG. wāle weal, ON. vala knuckle.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

Wale

views updated May 17 2018

Wale

a selection, or that chosen as the best.

Example: wale of pleasures, 1887.

Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms

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