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Added 9 October 2026

gunwale

/ˈɡʌnəl/ noun

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about gunwale at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Wale at the top of the side of boat; topmost planking of a wooden vessel.

Origin

From Middle English gonnewalle, itself from gonne (“gun”) + wale, as it used to support the ship's guns; equivalent to gun + wale.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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