Standard Lemma guide

gunwale

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈɡʌnəl/
  • rhymes with -ʌnəl
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The top edge of the hull of a nautical vessel, at or above where the hull meets the deck.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Holonyms: vessel, watercraft

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: wale

2

noun

Meaning 2

wale at the top of the side of boat; topmost planking of a wooden vessel

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gunnel, gun rest

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: wale, strake

History

Etymology

From Middle English gonnewalle, itself from gonne (“gun”) + wale, as it used to support the ship's guns; equivalent to gun + wale.

Across languages

Translations

32 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: планшир (planšir) — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Catalan: borda — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Chinese Mandarin: 舷邊 /舷边 (xiánbiān) — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Chinese Mandarin: 舷 (xián) — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Dutch: dolboord — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Finnish: reelinki — top edge of the side of a boat
  • French: plat-bord — top edge of the side of a boat
  • German: Dollbord — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Irish: gar-adhmaid — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Irish: gunail — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Irish: slat bhoird — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Italian: falchetta — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Japanese: ガンネル (ganneru) — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Japanese: 舷 (funaberi) — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Māori: niao — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Māori: kāpuku — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Norwegian Bokmål: ripe — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Norwegian Bokmål: båtripe — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Norwegian Bokmål: esing — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: ripe — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: båtripe — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: esing — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Polish: reling — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Portuguese: aposturas — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Portuguese: amurada — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Russian: планши́р (planšír) — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Russian: планши́рь (planšírʹ) — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Spanish: borda — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Swedish: reling — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Thai: แคม (kɛɛm) — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Welsh: gynwal — top edge of the side of a boat
  • Welsh: gynwalc — top edge of the side of a boat