(nautical) The top edge of the hull of a nautical vessel, where it meets the deck.
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Origin of gunwale
From Middle English gonnewalle, itself from gonne (“gun”) + wale, as it used to support the ship's guns; equivalent to gun + wale.
Sentence Examples
These and the gunwale are tastefully inlaid with mother-of-pearl and wreathed with shells and feathers.
Large flat-bottomed boats are towed across the river by small horses attached to an outrigger projecting beyond the gunwale by means of a surcingle or bellyband.
The boat has a high gunwale with a nice step to help you get over the side.
Except for the trireme none of these galleys had outriggers they were all worked over the gunwale.