wale

1. wale (noun) — sense 1

Definition: A ridge or low barrier.

2. wale (noun) — sense 2

Definition: A raised rib in knitted goods or fabric, especially corduroy.

Example: Most twills are continuous—the wale goes from one corner to the one diagonally opposite. Pattern, however, can be achieved by periodically changing the direction of the wales.

3. wale (noun) — sense 3

Definition: The texture of a piece of fabric.

Example: Crepon cloths, with their heavy crape-like wale, are a noteworthy part of the season's importations.

4. wale (verb) — sense 4

Definition: To strike the skin in such a way as to produce a wale or welt.

Example: Would suffer his lazy rider to bestride his patie: back, with his hands and whip to wale his flesh, and with his heels to dig into his hungry bowels?

5. wale (verb) — sense 5

Definition: To beat a person, especially as punishment or out of anger.

Example: When faced with an adulthood that offered few options, grinding poverty and marriage to a man who drank too much and came home to wale on his own family or...no beatings.

6. wale (verb) — sense 6

Definition: To give a surface a texture of wales or welts.