† whalefish Obs.
Also 6 wall-, whal(le)-, 6–7 wale-.
[repr. unrecorded OE. *hwælfisc, or a. MLG., MDu., Du. walvisch = OHG. walvisc (MHG. -visch, G. walfisch), ON. hvalfiskr: see whale n. and fish n.1]
A whale.
| c 1511 1st Eng. Bk. Amer. (Arb.) Introd. 28/1 There by be many walefysshes & flyinge fysshes. 1535 Coverdale Ps. cxlviii. 7 Prayse the Lorde vpon earth, ye whalfishes and all depes. 1546 Gassar's Prognost. A v b, The Son in the same euening shall go doune or set with the tayle of the Whalle fish. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. i. ii. 6 b, These people doe mainteine themselues with rootes of hearbes, with Sea Woulfes, and Whale fish. 1615 R. Cocks Diary (Hakl. Soc.) I. 91, 2 pec. wale fyshe. 1635 R. Johnson Hist. Tom a Lincolne (1828) 105 The whale fishes lay wallowing in the waves. 1712 Phil. Trans. XXVII. 440 About two Years ago there came a Stranger to me, who had two Penis's of the Whale Fish. |