Thread: Gunwhale... how is it said?

Gunnel is how I know it to be pronounced. (30 years sailing)

"Gunnel" is the pronunciation I know and that is how both the OED and the Macquarie indicate it is to be pronounced.

It might be like the North American pronunciation of "Buoy" - a throwback to the pronunciation of the 17th century when the maritime states of the US and Canada were first settled by the English.

Yeah gunnel

bit like "bosun" derived from boat swain - derived from boat swine !!!

Jedo

English is a living language, but some pronunciations have not yet been born.
To avoid the threat of being keel-hauled, maintain "gunnel". Of course, if you are opposed to "Leftenant" or "Sinjin" (for St John), then become a part of the next generation. There will be a problem, though. No-one else will necessarily know what you mean. Also, the skipper will be telling you in ever more graphic terms, possibly invoking issues of your parentage, if you are tardy getting your rear end onto the "gunnel" and get your weight out.

Gun'l

Pronounced "gunnel." Spelled (or spelt, if you prefer) "gunwale." The wale is a rib or rail; ribs in corduroy cloth are also called wales. The gunwale is the rail where the guns were mounted or shot over, when on the top deck.

I agree with Skew. ("How It's Made" wasn't it?) That nonsense about "gun hales" was a banana peel for me too. Great show and series, BTW.

Yep. Language is a work in progress. "Spalted" is my favourite. Started as "spoiled;" then "spoilt;" then "spalt." Then shifted tense and past tense became "spalted." Similar to "parcel" becoming "passel."

Joe

Now then, what about the seats in a boat - thwarts.

I call 'em "thorts", but recently heard "thewarts".

Any views on this (after which we will move onto leeward, forecastle, rowlocks - can't sailors spell anything the way that it is said??? )

Then there is Head-sails & check out this list of terms....
where did they get them from?????

Athwart hawse
Futtock-shrouds
Gammon the bowsprit
Garboard streak
Gimbleting
Gybing
Hawse-holes
Kentledge
Lanyards of the shrouds
Mizen-peek
Monkey-poop
Monkey-pump
Nun-buoy
Oakum
Orlop
To pawl the capstain
Pooping
Spanish burton-windlass
Swift the capstern bars
Uvrou

Google [lampoon rigging ship] for a satirical approach. All phony, but sound genuine (almost).

Joe

Originally Posted by joe greiner

("How It's Made" wasn't it?) That nonsense about "gun hales" was a banana peel for me too.

That was the one.

I guess it just goes to show that sailors weren't chosen for their literacy. Or their communication skills, for that matter.

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

That was the one.

I guess it just goes to show that sailors weren't chosen for their literacy. Or their communication skills, for that matter.

Oh I wouldn't be as bold as saying that. Twas a sailor discovered this Gondwanaland of ours. . .
Languages are constantly changing. . . Try reading Chaucer for instance, and that's only 400 years old. Even Shakespeare. . .
Remember that old wooden ships were very different to what we see today. . . Because they had gallumping sails, there was a gantry built on the side of the ship so the 2nd mate could fix the ships position with his sextant. Hence STAR-BOARD. Custom was to always build this on the right side of the ship. As a consequence, the ship could only tie up to the jetty on the opposite side - hence PORT-SIDE...
While I'm on. . . origin of the word "POSH" - as in rich and posh
The english used to ship out to India - them as could afford it chose the coolest side of the ship to travel - Port side going out - starboard side coming back. The porters used to write this on the passenger's luggage so they knew to change over.. used to write Port-Out/Starboard Home and it got shortened to POSH. . .
Jedo

Originally Posted by Jedo_03

Remember that old wooden ships were very different to what we see today. . . Because they had gallumping sails, there was a gantry built on the side of the ship so the 2nd mate could fix the ships position with his sextant. Hence STAR-BOARD. Custom was to always build this on the right side of the ship. As a consequence, the ship could only tie up to the jetty on the opposite side - hence PORT-SIDE...

An interesting twist on the origin of star board , havent heard that one before. The story that usually goes around is that origionally vessels in the med used a streering oar and on the right side of the vessel was a star board, a board with the stars of the heavens painted on it so that they could steer by night, and became the star board side , as your vision was blocked when berthing you would dock the vessel on the left or port side,
In the days of sailing ships only the captian or pilot were allowed to take star sights use a sextant or other navigation instrument , or take a record of the ships position and this was to deter mutiny and was punashable in the british navy until early into the 1900's .


Rgds

Then of course in latter day terms there was POSH, reserved for the wealthy on cruise ships Port Out Starboard Home, supposedly more comfortable as the sun struck the opposite side of the vessel and the peasants would suffer the heat.
And what is the origin of sheet in sailboats (I have heard some refer to sails as sheets, peasants).
And when I had my own yacht I had a mistress, even when my wife was with me
Back to the original question, I concur with the phonetic 'gunnell' which runs between the pointy end and the flat end

Of course the dorks refer to sails as sheets; they sorta look like sheets. I can't find my Chapman's, and I'm not a sailor anyway; but only use I've seen is in the sheet bend knot. And don't you dare call a line a "rope."

Back to the wales: On tied-back retaining walls and deep foundation holes, the wall consists of driven soldier piles (H-piles), with timber lagging spanning between the bosoms (that's what they're called) of the H-piles, and the soldier piles restrained by horizontal beams carrying anchors drilled into the dirt. The horizontal beams are called "wales." Usually mispronounced as "walers." Similar to footings called "footers." So sailors don't have a monopoly on illiteracy.

Joe