whale

A humpback whale.

Meanings

Noun

  • Any one of numerous large marine mammals comprising an informal group within infraorder Cetacea that usually excludes dolphins and porpoises.
  • Any species of Cetacea.
  • Something, or someone, that is very large.
  • Something, or someone, that is excellent.
  • In a casino, a person who routinely bets at the maximum limit allowable.
  • An investor who deals with very large amounts of money.
  • A person who spends large amounts of money on things that are marketed to them.

Verb

  • To hunt for whales.
  • To thrash, to flog, to beat vigorously or soundly.

Origin

  • From Middle English whale, from Old English hwæl ("whale"), from Proto-West Germanic *hwal, from Proto-Germanic *hwalaz ("whale") (compare German Wal, Swedish val, Danish and Norwegian Bokmål hval, Norwegian Nynorsk kval; compare also Dutch walvis, West Frisian walfisk, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kʷálos ("sheatfish") (compare German Wels, Latin squalus ("big sea fish"), Old Prussian kalis, Ancient Greek ἄσπαλος, Avestan 𐬐𐬀𐬭𐬀 ("kind of fish")).
  • Uncertain. Perhaps a variant of wale influenced by whack, whap, etc.

Modern English dictionary

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