gunwale

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: gun=wale

CIDE DICTIONARY

gunwale, n. [Gun + wale. So named because the upper guns were pointed from it.].

 The upper edge of a vessel's or boat's side; the uppermost wale of a ship (not including the bulwarks); or that piece of timber which reaches on either side from the quarter-deck to the forecastle, being the uppermost bend, which finishes the upper works of the hull.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

gunwale, n. (also gunnel) the upper edge of the side of a boat or ship.

Etymology

GUN + WALE (because formerly used to support guns)