1. (Zoöl.) (a) A common European food fish (Melangus vulgaris) of the
Codfish family; — called also fittin. (b) A North American fish
(Merlucius vulgaris) allied to the preceding; — called also silver
hake. (c) Any one of several species of North American marine sciænoid
food fishes belonging to genus Menticirrhus, especially M. Americanus,
found from Maryland to Brazil, and M. littoralis, common from Virginia
to Texas; — called also silver whiting, and surf whiting.
Various other fishes are locally called whiting, as the kingfish (a),
the sailor's choice (b), the Pacific tomcod, and certain species of
lake whitefishes.
2. Chalk prepared in an impalpable powder by pulverizing and repeated
washing, used as a pigment, as an ingredient in putty, for cleaning
silver, etc.
Whiting pollack. (Zoöl.) Same as Pollack. — Whiting pout (Zoöl.), the
bib, 2.