whale¹ (hwāl, wāl)
n.

1. Any of various marine mammals of the order Cetacea, having the general shape of a fish with forelimbs modified to form flippers, a tail with horizontal flukes, and one or two blowholes for breathing, especially one of the very large species as distinguished from the smaller dolphins and porpoises.
2. Informal. An impressive example: a whale of a story.

intr.v., whaled, whal·ing, whales.
To engage in the hunting of whales.

[Middle English, from Old English hwæl.]

whale² (hwāl, wāl)

v., whaled, whal·ing, whales.

v.tr.
To strike or hit repeatedly and forcefully; thrash.

v.intr.
To attack vehemently: The poet whaled away at the critics.

[Origin unknown.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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