subs. (Cheltenham College).—1. Codfish.
2. (Royal Military Academy).—A sardine.
3. (common).—In pl. = anchovies on toast.
Verb (common).—1. To beat, thrash, lash vigorously. Hence WHALING = a trouncing, WALLOPING (q.v.).
1847. New York Tribune, Aug. But it is possible that we may, at some future time, go to war with England, her writers and speakers having spoken disparagingly of us while her actors, half-pay officers, and other travelling gentry, carry their heads rather high in passing through our country,—for which ‘arrogant’ demeanor we are bound to give her a WHALING!
1862. T. WINTHROP, The Canoe and the Saddle, xii. I have whipped you … but have I WHALED you?
1883. BRET HARTE, The Society on the Stanislaus.
| But first I would remark, that it is not a proper plan | |
| For any scientific gent to WHALE his fellow-man. |
2. (American).—To talk vehemently, harangue, SPOUT (q.v.): also TO WHALE AWAY.
1856. WHITCHER, The Widow Bedott Papers, 289. [Professor Stubbins is] always a WHALIN’ AWAY about the dignity o’ labor—has jest ben deliverin’ a course o’ lecters on the subjict. Ibid., 104. I went off to Baptist meeting…. As usual, the Elder WHALED AWAY through his nose—thumped the desk, and went over and over again with the same thing.
1848. J. R. LOWELL, The Biglow Papers, I. 13.
| Their masters can cuss ’em, and kick ’em, and WALE ’em, | |
| An’ they notice it less ’an the ass did to Balaam. |
TO FISH FOR HERRING AND CATCH A WHALE (or SPRAT), verb. phr. (old).—1. To get a result other than that expected. Hence (2) to ‘catch a TARTAR’ (q.v.), fail miserably.
IT’S VERY LIKE A WHALE, phr. (old).—Ironical assent to a preposterous assertion: see quot.
1596. SHAKESPEARE, Hamlet, iii. 2. 392. Ham. Do you see yonder cloud that’s almost like a camel? Pol. By the mass and ’tis a camel, indeed. Ham. Methinks it is like a weasel. Pol. It is backed like a weasel. Ham. Or like a WHALE. Pol. VERY LIKE A WHALE.
TO GO AHEAD LIKE A WHALE, verb. phr. (common).—To forge ahead, to act, speak, or write vigorously.
