Webster's English Dictionary

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wale

1. wale \'wa-(*)l\ n [ME, fr. OE walu; akin to ON valr round, L volvere to 
   roll m more at VOLUBLE 1a: a streak or ridge made on the skin esp. by the 
   stroke of a whip :  WEAL 1b: a narrow raised surface : RIDGE  2: one of a 
   number of strakes usu. of extra thick and strong planks in the  sides of a 
   wooden ship - usu. used in pl. 3a: one of a series of even ribs in a fabric 
    3b: the texture esp. of a fabric 
2. wale vt : to mark (as the skin) with welts 
3. wale n [ME (Sc & northern dial.) wal, fr. ON val; akin to OHG wala 
   c]hoice, OE wyllan to wish - more at WILL dial Brit  1: CHOICE  dial Brit  
   2: the best part : PICK 
4. wale vb dial Brit  : CHOOSE