subs. (common).—Anything very large, a big thing, a WHOPPER (q.v.). Whence WHACKING = very large.

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  1861.  T. HUGHES, Tom Brown at Oxford, xxx. ‘Look what WHACKERS, Cousin Tom,’ said Charley, holding out one of his prizes by its back towards Tom, while the indignant cray-fish flapped its tail.

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  1871.  G. D. ATKIN, House Scraps, 131.

        ‘How kind of them,’ says he, ‘to gi’e me ’em,
Since they’re at such a WHACKING premium!’

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  1887.  The Field, 14 Nov. Good half-pounders every one, with an occasional WHACKER of ten ounces.

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