gunwale
nounUK /ˈɡʌn.əl/
US /ˈɡʌn.əl/
The top edge of the side of a boat.
She rested her hand on the gunwale as the boat drifted across the lake.
SYNONYMS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The upper strake or plank forming the top edge of a boat's side.
The carpenter replaced the worn gunwale along the port side.
3. The raised edge along the top of a canoe or kayak where the hull meets the deck.
Water splashed over the gunwale as they paddled through the rapids.
4. The upper edge of a ship's side, often used in nautical measurements.
The sailors stood at the gunwale, watching the harbor approach.