AS WHITE AS WHALEBONE, phr. (old).—A common simile for whiteness. [HALLIWELL: Some writers imagined ivory, formerly made from the teeth of the walrus, to be formed from the bones of the whale.]

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  c. 1430.  The Destruction of Troy [E.E.T.S.], 3055.

        To telle of hir tethe þat tryetly were set,
Alse QWYTE & qwem AS ANY QWALLE BON.

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  1567.  TURBERVILLE, Praise of His Love, in Poems, S. 8 b.

        A little mouth, with decent Chin,
  a Corall lip of hue,
With Teethe AS WHITE AS WHALE HIS BONE,
  ech one in order due.

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  1590.  SPENSER, The Fairie Queene, III. i. 15.

        Whose face did seem as clear as crystal stone,
And eke, through fear AS WHITE AS WHALE’S BONE.

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  1594.  SHAKESPEARE, Love’s Labour’s Lost, v. 2.

        This is the flower that smiles on every one,
To shew his teeth AS WHITE AS WHALE HIS BONE.

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