The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Wale \Wale\, n. [AS. walu a mark of stripes or blows, probably
   originally, a rod; akin to Icel. v["o]lr, Goth. walus a rod,
   staff. [root]146. Cf. Goal, Weal a wale.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. A streak or mark made on the skin by a rod or whip; a
      stripe; a wheal. See Wheal. --Holland.

   Syn: welt; weal; wheal.
        [1913 Webster]

   2. A ridge or streak rising above the surface, as of cloth;
      hence, the texture of cloth.
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            Thou 'rt rougher far,
            And of a coarser wale, fuller of pride. --Beau. &
                                                  Fl.
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   3. (Carp.) A timber bolted to a row of piles to secure them
      together and in position. --Knight.
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   4. (Naut.)
      (a) pl. Certain sets or strakes of the outside planking of
          a vessel; as, the main wales, or the strakes of
          planking under the port sills of the gun deck; channel
          wales, or those along the spar deck, etc.
      (b) A wale knot, or wall knot.
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   Wale knot. (Naut.) See Wall knot, under 1st Wall.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Wale \Wale\, v. t.
   1. To mark with wales, or stripes.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To choose; to select; specifically (Mining), to pick out
      the refuse of (coal) by hand, in order to clean it. [Prov.
      Eng. & Scot.]
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

wale
    n 1: a raised mark on the skin (as produced by the blow of a
         whip); characteristic of many allergic reactions [syn:
         wale, welt, weal, wheal]
    2: thick plank forming a ridge along the side of a wooden ship
       [syn: wale, strake]