wale 
(w
āl)
n.1. A mark raised on the skin, as by a whip; a weal or welt.
2. a. One of the parallel ribs or ridges in the surface of a fabric such as corduroy.
b. The texture or weave of such a fabric: a wide wale.
3. Nautical a. A gunwale.
b. One of the heavy planks or strakes extending along the sides of a wooden ship.
tr.v. waled,
wal·ing,
wales To raise marks on (the skin), as by whipping.
[Middle English, from Old English, variant of walu; see wel-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]