Gunwale
（重定向自Gunwhale）
![Diagram showing location of the gunwale](/Images/godic/202501/16/Tugboat_diagram-en_edit1a.svg4624.png")
The gunwale (/ˈɡʌnəl/) is the top edge of the side of a boat.
Originally the gunwale was the "gun ridge" on a sailing warship. This represented the strengthening wale or structural band added to the design of the ship, at and above the level of a gun deck. It was designed to accommodate the stresses imposed by the use of artillery.