W

n. A streak or mark made on the skin by a rod or whip; a stripe; a wheal. See Wheal. A ridge or streak rising above the surface, as of cloth; hence, the texture of cloth. (Carp.) A timber bolted to a row of piles to secure them together and in position. (Naut.) (a) pl. Certain sets or strakes of the outside planking of a vessel; as, the main wales, or the strakes of planking under the port sills of the gun deck; channel wales, or those along the spar deck, etc. (b) A wale knot, or wall knot. Wale knot. (Naut.) See ...