Wales

[ weylz ]
/ weɪlz /

noun

a division of the United Kingdom, in SW Great Britain. 8016 sq. mi. (20,760 sq. km).
Medieval Cambria.

Definition for wales (2 of 3)

wale 1
[ weyl ]
/ weɪl /

noun

verb (used with object), waled, wal·ing.

Origin of wale

1
before 1050; (noun) Middle English; Old English walu ridge, rib, wheal; cognate with Old Norse vǫlr, Gothic walus rod, wand; (v.) late Middle English, derivative of the noun

Definition for wales (3 of 3)

wale 2
[ weyl ]
/ weɪl /
Scot. and North England

noun

something that is selected as the best; choice.

verb (used with object), waled, wal·ing.

to choose; select.

Origin of wale

2
1250–1300; Middle English wal(e) < Old Norse val choice, velja to choose

Example sentences from the Web for wales

British Dictionary definitions for wales (1 of 3)

Wales
/ (weɪlz) /

noun

a principality that is part of the United Kingdom, in the west of Great Britain; conquered by the English in 1282; parliamentary union with England took place in 1536: a separate Welsh Assembly with limited powers was established in 1999. Wales consists mainly of moorlands and mountains and has an economy that is chiefly agricultural, with an industrial and former coal-mining area in the south. Capital: Cardiff. Pop: 2 938 000 (2003 est). Area: 20 768 sq km (8017 sq miles) Welsh name: Cymru Medieval Latin name: Cambria

British Dictionary definitions for wales (2 of 3)

wale 1
/ (weɪl) /

noun

the raised mark left on the skin after the stroke of a rod or whip
  1. the weave or texture of a fabric, such as the ribs in corduroy
  2. a vertical row of stitches in knittingCompare course (def. 14)
nautical
  1. a ridge of planking along the rail of a ship
  2. See gunwale

verb (tr)

to raise a wale or wales on by striking
to weave with a wale

Word Origin for wale

Old English walu weal 1; related to Old Norse vala knuckle, Dutch wäle

British Dictionary definitions for wales (3 of 3)

wale 2
/ (weɪl) Scot and Northern English dialect /

noun

a choice
anything chosen as the best

adjective

choice

verb

(tr) to choose

Word Origin for wale

C14: from Old Norse val choice, related to German Wahl

Medical definitions for wales

wale
[ wāl ]

n.

A mark raised on the skin, as by a whip; a weal or welt.

v.

To raise marks on the skin, as by whipping.

Cultural definitions for wales

Wales

One of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, occupying the western peninsula of the island of Great Britain. Its capital and largest city is Cardiff.

notes for Wales

Welsh culture is known for its writers and singers, dating back more than one thousand years to the bards (poet-singers) of the Middle Ages.