Green’s Dictionary of Slang

nale adj.

also nael

[backsl.]

lean.

1859		Hotten Dict. of Modern Sl. etc. 128: NALE, or nael, lean.
1864, 1867, 1870		Hotten Sl. Dict. [as cit. 1859].
1873		Sl. Dict.
1887		J.W. Horsley Jottings from Jail 4: Hi, yob! kool that enif elrig with the nael ekom.