gunwale

noun

gun·​wale ˈgə-nᵊl How to pronounce gunwale (audio)
variants or less commonly
: the upper edge of a ship's or boat's side
Phrases
to the gunwales
: as fully as possible
The doorbell rang, and Flanagan let in his wife, who was loaded to the gunwales with groceries.Whitney Balliett

Examples of gunwale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The one model that proved an exception had a narrower deck sunken below its gunwales, not the flat, open swimming platform-like deck of the CrossWave. New Atlas, 21 Aug. 2025 The stern has been given a fresh twist, with a transparent gunwale and a pivoting beach platform. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 25 July 2025 Meanwhile, the interior features large windows, retractable bulwarks, and sliding gunwales to allow light and air to dissolve the boundary between inside and outside and enhance the sensation of space. Bill Springer, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025 Marigolds lined the gunwale of the boat with a pink and blue Sugar Skull painted on the stern. Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for gunwale

Word History

Etymology

Middle English gonne-wale, from gonne gun + wale entry 1; from its former use as a support for guns

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gunwale was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gunwale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gunwale. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

gunwale

noun
gun·​wale
variants also gunnel
: the upper edge of a ship's side

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