The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
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 — 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… … Wikipedia
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
