A wale is a thick plank of wood fastened to the side of a ship to provide protection from wear.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.