\Wale\, n. [AS. walu a mark of stripes or blows, probably
originally, a rod; akin to Icel. v["o]lr, Goth. walus a rod,
staff. [root]146. Cf. {Goal}, {Weal} a wale.]
1. A streak or mark made on the skin by a rod or whip; a
   stripe; a wheal. See {Wheal}. --Holland.
2. A ridge or streak rising above the surface, as of cloth;
   hence, the texture of cloth.
         Thou 'rt rougher far, And of a coarser wale, fuller
         of pride.                             --Beau & Fl.
3. (Carp.) A timber bolted to a row of piles to secure them
   together and in position. --Knight.
4. (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 {Wall knot}, under 1st {Wall}.

\Wale\, v. t.
1. To mark with wales, or stripes.
2. To choose; to select; specifically (Mining), to pick out
   the refuse of (coal) by hand, in order to clean it. [Prov.
   Eng. & Scot.]