The upper edge of a vessel's or boat's side; the uppermost wale of a ship (not including the bulwarks); or that piece of timber which reaches on either side from the quarter-deck to the forecastle, being the uppermost bend, which finishes the upper works of the hull
A structural timber extending from bow to stern along the inside of the top plank; loosely speaking, the top edge of the hull of a boat Pronounced "Gun'l"
(or gunnel, saxboard) Top section on the sides of a shell which runs along the sides of the crew section where the rowers are located The riggers are secured to the gunwale with bolts
Vertical portion of the shell perpendicular to water's surface to which the riggers are attached Used by the oarsmen to hold the shell while it is inverted Pronounced "gunnel"
the upper edge of the side of a boat or small ship (gun + wale (11-20 centuries) (from walu); because it was once used to support guns)