View synonyms for wale

wale

[ weyl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a streak, stripe, or ridge produced on the skin by the stroke of a rod or whip; welt.
the vertical rib in knit goods or a chain of loops running lengthwise in knit fabric ( course ).
the texture or weave of a fabric.
Nautical.
1. any of certain strakes of thick outside planking on the sides of a wooden ship.
2. gunwale.
Also called breast timber,. Engineering, Building Trades. a horizontal timber or other support for reinforcing various upright members, as sheet piling or concrete form boards, or for retaining earth at the edge of an excavation.
a ridge on the outside of a horse collar.

verb (used with object)

, waled, wal·ing.

to mark with wales.
to weave with wales.
Engineering, Building Trades. to reinforce or fasten with a wale or wales.

wale

[ weyl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

something that is selected as the best; choice.

verb (used with object)

, waled, wal·ing.

to choose; select.

wale

/ weɪl /

noun

a choice
anything chosen as the best

adjective

choice

verb

tr to choose

wale

/ weɪl /

noun

the raised mark left on the skin after the stroke of a rod or whip
1. the weave or texture of a fabric, such as the ribs in corduroy
2. a vertical row of stitches in knitting Compare course
nautical
1. a ridge of planking along the rail of a ship
2. See gunwale

verb

to raise a wale or wales on by striking
to weave with a wale

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Word History and Origins

Origin of wale¹

First recorded before 1050; Middle English; Old English walu “ridge, rib, welt”; cognate with Old Norse vǫlr, Gothic walus “rod, wand”; wheal;

Origin of wale²

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English noun wal(e), from Old Norse val “choice,”

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Word History and Origins

Origin of wale¹

C14: from Old Norse val choice, related to German Wahl

Origin of wale²

Old English walu weal ¹; related to Old Norse vala knuckle, Dutch wäle

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Example Sentences

It was on the Derby, he himself having bet that the Prince of Wale's horse would win.

From Project Gutenberg

As the thought passed through her, she saw on Amy's neck a frightful upswollen wale.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Quintus Slide, when he was really anxious to use his thong earnestly, could generally raise a wale.

From Project Gutenberg

We may doubt, however, whether she had ever realized how terribly her scourges would wale him.

From Project Gutenberg

His business was to wale dismal, and bow his head down, the band (a barrel organ and a wiolin) playin slow and melancholly moosic.

From Project Gutenberg

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Waldwick Waler

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