specksioneer Whale-fishing.
(spɛkʃəˈnɪə(r))
Also specktion(e)er, spectioneer, 'speckshioner.
[ad. Du. speksnijer, colloquial form of speksnijder, f. spek speck n.4 + snijden to cut. The Du. ij was formerly, and is still locally, pronounced as (iː).]
A harpooner, usually the chief harpooner, of a whaler, who directs the operation of flensing the whale or cutting up the blubber.
| α 1820 Scoresby Acc. Arctic Reg. II. 40 The office of specksioneer, as it is called by the English. The specksioneer is now considered the principal harpooner. Ibid. 299 The harpooners, directed by the specksioneer, divide the fat into oblong pieces or ‘slips’. 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Spectioneer, a whaling name for the first harpooner. 1863 Mrs. Gaskell Sylvia's L. II. 89 They spoke of the specksioneer, with admiration enough for his powers as a harpooner and sailor. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. 641 Specktioneer, the chief harpooner in a Greenland ship. |
| β 1836 Uncle Philip's Convers. Whale Fishery 87 There is among the harpooners one man called the specktioner, and as he commands, the harpooners cut the fat into long pieces. 1896 Kipling Seven Seas 24 Up spake the soul of a gray Gothavn 'speckshioner. |