Etymograph

English

gunwale

Gunwale comes from Middle English gunne ‘gun’.

  1. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500gunneas gonne‘gun’
  2. Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500gonnewalle
  3. Englishtodaygunwale

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500gunneas gonne‘gun’
  2. Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500gonnewalle
  3. Englishtodaygunwale

A compound of gun + wale

Middle English gunne

English gun

Proto-Indo-European *welH- ‘to turn, wind, roll’

Proto-Germanic *waluz ‘stick, root’

Proto-West Germanic *walu

Old English walu ‘ridge, bank’

Middle English wāle ‘planking, welt’

English wale

Linked words

through Middle English gunne ‘gun’

gun, gunner, 1 more

Today it means

noun The top edge of the hull of a nautical vessel, at or above where the hull meets the deck.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Middle English gunne / gunwale

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