Wale
/weɪl/noun
A raised ridge, mark, or stripe on a surface, especially on skin or fabric.
Did you know?In older English, related forms could mean a ridge, a stripe, or even a swelling mark, showing how language often names what’s visibly pushed to the surface.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wel-
“to turn, roll, or revolve”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*walþaz / *walō
“a ridge, roll, or raised strip”
Old English
OE
walu
“a ridge, streak, or welt”
Middle English
ME
wale
“a ridge, stripe, or raised mark”
Modern English
English
wale
“a raised ridge, mark, or stripe on a surface”