gunnel

¹ American  

[guhn-l] / ˈgʌn l /

noun

1. any small eellike blenny of the family Pholididae (Pholidae), especially Pholis gunnellus rock gunnel, orbutterfish, common in shallow waters of the North Atlantic.

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gunnel ² American  

[guhn-l] / ˈgʌn l /

noun

Nautical.

1. gunwale.

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gunnel ¹ British  

/ ˈɡʌnəl /

noun

1. any eel-like blennioid fish of the family Pholidae, occurring in coastal regions of northern seas See also butterfish

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gunnel ² British  

/ ˈɡʌnəl /

noun

1. a variant spelling of gunwale

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Etymology

Origin of gunnel¹

First recorded in 1680–90; origin uncertain

Origin of gunnel²

1425–75; Middle English. See gunwale

Example Sentences

She was deeply slouched and holding on to the gunnel with both her hands, her head sunk very low between her arms.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

Then I made my point, feet on the gunnel, boat rolling, my single­note language blasting from the whistle, and Richard Parker moaning and gasping at the bottom of the boat.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

I pulled myself up and carefully peeped over the gunnel.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

We had plenty of freeboard, the distance between the water and the gunnel; it would take a mean sea to swamp us.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

Kabuo brought his thermos into the cockpit, then sat on the port gunnel and sipped green tea, listening into the fog uneasily.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson