WHALE

I. noun (plural ~s) Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hwæl; akin to Old High German hwal ~ and perhaps to Latin squalus sea fish Date: before 12th century cetacean , one that is impressive especially in size , ~like adjective II. intransitive verb (~d; whaling) Date: 1700 to engage in ~ fishing, III. transitive verb (~d; whaling) Etymology: origin unknown Date: circa 1790 lash , thrash , to strike or hit vigorously, to defeat soundly