gunwale

or gun·nel

[ guhn-l ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Nautical.

the upper edge of the side or bulwark of a vessel.
the sheer strake of a wooden vessel; the uppermost strake beneath the plank-sheer.

gunwale

/ ˈɡʌnəl /

nautical the top of the side of a boat or the topmost plank of a wooden vessel
full to the gunwales
full to the gunwales completely full; full to overflowing

Origin of gunwale¹

1325–75; Middle English. See gun ¹, wale ¹; a plank so called because guns were set upon it

Amy, who was strong and quick, reached over the gunwale of the canoe and seized upon the crooked figure.

We went on board the Danish ship, for there was not enough sea to prevent our lying gunwale to gunwale for a moment.

On either side of the gunwale aft is fitted a brass crutch for supporting the main boom when the vessel is at anchor (fig. 21).

Then passed rafts of wood interminably long, and barges loaded to the gunwale, and nearly sinking under water.

Déruchette heard the sound of the boat-hook among the shingle, and the step of the man on the gunwale of the boat.

April 18, 2024petrichor

[pet-ri-kawr]

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