A wale is one of the strakes of wooden planking that forms the outer skin of the hull of a ship, but substantially thicker than the other strakes. It provides extra stiffening and strength to the hull. It was a common feature of heavy wooden ship construction, particularly from mediaeval times to the early years of the 19th century, being a major constructional component of ships like USS Constitution, HMS Victory and many earlier vessels.In a barge the inwale connects the tops of the futtocks to provide the ledge on which the beams and carlings are rested. It is bolted through to the outer wale, which eventually would be flush with the double planking.A wale (or "waler") is a horizontal supporting member of a concrete forming system, vertically reinforced by a "strongback".

A wale is also a horizontal member of a geotechnical tieback wall, which transmits the force from the tieback to the beams.