whale Definition

whale¹
noun

whale, whales
1. Any of various large marine mammals of the order Cetacea. They are distributed worldwide and have a torpedo-shaped body, two flippers, flat horizontal tail blades, and a blowhole on the top of the head for breathing.

verb

intr
whaled, whaling
1. To hunt whales.

Derivative: whaling
noun

Idiom: a whale of a ...

colloq
A hugely enjoyable (time or evening, etc).

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon hwæl.

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whale²
verb

(chiefly US)
whaled, whaling
1. slang
To thrash someone or something; to strike them or it violently.

Etymology: 18c.