The edge where the upper deck meets the ship's side is known as the gunwale; this term survives from the early days of wooden ships when the hull was strengthened longitudinally by one or more heavy strakes called wales, the one supporting the main gun-deck being then known as the gunwale .
Isiphelo apho idekhi engasentla idibana necala lenqanawa waziwa ngokuba ngumphetho wenqanawa; eli gama lisukela kwintsuku zangaphambili zenqanawa zamaplanga apho isiqu senqanawa sasisomelezwa ngomchwe onzima omnye okanye ngaphezulu ngokweside eyayisaziwa ngokuba yiminenge, lo wawuxhasa idekhi yompu waphela ubizwa ngokuba ngumphetho wenqanawa.