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wale
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wale

knitting
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Quick Summary

The term "wale" has multiple meanings. In textiles, a wale refers to a vertical column of loops in knitted fabric, running lengthwise. These are distinct from "courses," which are the horizontal rows of loops. Knitting, the process of creating fabric by interlocking loops of yarn, can be done by hand or machine.12

"Wale" can also refer to a ridge or streak, such as a welt on the skin from a whip, or a raised surface on fabric. In shipbuilding, "wales" are strong planks reinforcing the sides of a wooden ship.3

Additionally, "whalebone" refers to keratinous plates in the mouths of baleen whales, used for filtering food from seawater. Historically, whalebone was used in products like corsets.4

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7 Britannica Sources
  1. whalebone
  2. wale
  3. whalebone whale
  4. wale knot
  5. textile - Special effects in warp knits
  6. textile - Raschel
  7. knitting

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