# wale

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈweɪl/ · frequency rank #43,461

## Definitions
1. A ridge or low barrier.
2. A raised rib in knitted goods or fabric, especially corduroy.
3. The texture of a piece of fabric.
4. A horizontal ridge or ledge on the outside planking of a wooden ship. (See gunwale, chainwale)
5. A horizontal timber used for supporting or retaining earth.
6. A timber bolted to a row of piles to secure them together and in position.
7. A ridge on the outside of a horse collar.
8. A ridge or streak produced on skin by a cane or whip.

## Etymology
The noun is from Middle English wāle (“planking, welt”), from Old English walu (“ridge, bank; rib, comb (of helmet); metal ridge on top of helmet; weal, mark of a blow”), from Proto-Germanic *waluz (“stick, root”), from Proto-Indo-European *welH- (“to turn, wind, roll”). Akin to Low German wāle; Old Norse vala (“knuckle”). The verb is from late Middle English wālen, from the noun.

## Easily confused with
- **we** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wale-vs-we)
- **WL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wale-vs-wl)
- **was** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wale-vs-was)
- **way** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wale-vs-way)
- **war** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wale-vs-war)
- **WWE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wale-vs-wwe)
- **wax** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wale-vs-wax)
- **wee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wale-vs-wee)
- **wan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wale-vs-wan)
- **wat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wale-vs-wat)
- **woe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wale-vs-woe)
- **Wie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wale-vs-wie)
- **wye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wale-vs-wye)
- **WAP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wale-vs-wap)
- **WAV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wale-vs-wav)
- **will** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wale-vs-will)
- **were** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wale-vs-were)
- **want** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wale-vs-want)
- **well** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wale-vs-well)
- **wife** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wale-vs-wife)

## Common misspellings (5)
`awle`, `wael`, `walle`, `wlae`, `wwale`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/wale