ˈchain-wale Naut.
[f. chain n. 14 + wale.]
A strong piece of timber secured outside the ship's side, almost abreast but somewhat behind the mast, whose lower shrouds it serves to extend and secure; now usually corrupted into channel n.2
| 1611 Cotgr., Port 'aubans, chaine-wales. 1627 Capt. Smith Seaman's Gram. ii. 6 The chaine waile is a broad timber set out amongst them, a little aboue where the chaines and shrouds are fastened together to spread the shrouds the wider the better to succour the masts. 1704 J. Harris Lex. Techn. s.v. Fishes, The Anchor is haled up to the Ships Bow, or Chainwale. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Chains, properly Chain-wales, or Channels. |