Naut. [f. CHAIN sb. 14 + WALE.] A strong piece of timber secured outside the ship’s side, almost abreast but somewhat behind the mast, whose lower shrouds it serves to extend and secure; now usually corrupted into CHANNEL sb.2
1611. Cotgr., Port ’aubans, chaine-wales.
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., ii. 6. The chaine waile is a broad timber set out amongst them, a little aboue where the chaines and shrouds are fastened together to spread the shrouds the wider the better to succour the masts.
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., s.v. Fishes, The Anchor is haled up to the Ships Bow, or Chainwale.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Chains, properly Chain-wales, or Channels.
