2. To choose; to select; specifically (Mining), to pick out
the refuse of (coal) by hand, in order to clean it. [Prov.
Eng. & Scot.]
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}.