Wha*hoo" (?), n. (Bot.) An American tree, the winged elm. (Ulmus
alata).
Whala (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Whaled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Whaling.]
[Cf. Wale. ] To lash with stripes; to wale; to thrash; to drub. [Prov.
Eng. & Colloq. U. S.] Halliwell. Bartlett.
Whale, n. [OE. whal, AS. hwæl; akin to D. walvisch, G. wal, walfisch,
OHG. wal, Icel. hvalr, Dan. & Sw. hval, hvalfisk. Cf. Narwhal, Walrus.]
(Zoöl.) Any aquatic mammal of the order Cetacea, especially any one of
the large species, some of which become nearly one hundred feet long.
Whales are hunted chiefly for their oil and baleen, or whalebone.
The existing whales are divided into two groups: the toothed whales
(Odontocete), including those that have teeth, as the cachalot, or
sperm whale (see Sperm whale); and the baleen, or whalebone, whales
(Mysticete), comprising those that are destitute of teeth, but have
plates of baleen hanging from the upper jaw, as the right whales. The
most important species of whalebone whales are the bowhead, or
Greenland, whale (see Illust. of Right whale), the Biscay whale, the
Antarctic whale, the gray whale (see under Gray), the humpback, the
finback, and the rorqual.
Whale bird. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of large Antarctic
petrels which follow whaling vessels, to feed on the blubber and
floating oil; especially, Prion turtur (called also blue petrel), and
Pseudoprion desolatus. (b) The turnstone; — so called because it lives
on the carcasses of whales. [Canada] — Whale fin (Com.), whalebone.
Simmonds. — Whale fishery, the fishing for, or occupation of taking,
whales. — Whale louse (Zoöl.), any one of several species of degraded
amphipod crustaceans belonging to the genus Cyamus, especially C. ceti.
They are parasitic on various cetaceans. — Whale's bone, ivory. [Obs.]
— Whale shark. (Zoöl.) (a) The basking, or liver, shark. (b) A very
large harmless shark (Rhinodon typicus) native of the Indian Ocean. It
sometimes becomes sixty feet long. — Whale shot, the name formerly
given to spermaceti. — Whale's tongue (Zoöl.), a balanoglossus.
Whale"boat` (?), n. (Naut.) A long, narrow boat, sharp at both ends,
used by whalemen.
Whale"bone` (?), n. A firm, elastic substance resembling horn, taken
from the upper jaw of the right whale; baleen. It is used as a
stiffening in stays, fans, screens, and for various other purposes. See
Baleen.
Whalebone is chiefly obtained from the bowhead, or Greenland, whale,
the Biscay whale, and the Antarctic, or southern, whale. It is prepared
for manufacture by being softened by boiling, and dyed black.
Whale"man (?), n.; pl. Whalemen (&?;). A man employed in the whale
fishery.
Whal"er (?), n. A vessel or person employed in the whale fishery.
Whal"er, n. One who whales, or beats; a big, strong fellow; hence,
anything of great or unusual size. [Colloq. U. S.]
Whal"ing, n. The hunting of whales.
Whal"ing, a. Pertaining to, or employed in, the pursuit of whales; as,
a whaling voyage; a whaling vessel.
Whall (?), n. [See Wall-eye.] A light color of the iris in horses;
wall-eye. [Written also whaul.]
Whall"y (?), a. Having the iris of light color; — said of horses.
"Whally eyes." Spenser.
Whame (?), n. (Zoöl.) A breeze fly.