▪ I. whaling, vbl. n.1
(ˈhweɪlɪŋ)
[f. whale n. or v.1 + -ing1.]
1. a. The action, practice, or business of catching whales.
| 1716 B. Church Hist. Philip's War (1867) II. 133 Whale-men..having a promise made to them, that they shall be released in good season to go home a Whaling in the Fall. 1851 H. Melville Whale xvi, ‘But what takes thee a-whaling?’.. ‘Well, sir I want to see what whaling is.’ 1895 Gore-Booth Sea Fishing (Badm. Libr.) xvi. 497 The Arctics seem to have an extraordinary and incomprehensible attraction for some people; and when it is coupled with whaling, to the author it becomes almost irresistible. |
b. attrib. or as ppl. a.
| 1722 New-England Courant 18 June 2/2 Huffey of Nantucket..went out from thence on the Whaling Account. 1767 M. Cutler in W. P. & J. P. Cutler Life & Corr. M. Cutler (1888) I. i. 19 Our whaling vessels sailed for the Western Islands. 1782 ‘J. H. St. John de Crèvecœur’ Lett. from Amer. Farmer v. 158 They have greatly cheapened the fitting out of their whaling fleets. 1821 Scott Pirate v, Ill-faur'd tools they had in their hands, whaaling knives they ca'ed them. 1823 Scoresby Voy. N. Whale-fishery 34 The practice of such kinds of harmless frolic, as the circumstances of a whaling voyage will admit. 1836 Uncle Philip's Convers. Whale Fishery 6 There was a whaling ship fitting out for her voyage. 1843 Penny Cycl. XXVII. 752/1 The number of whales has greatly decreased on the whaling-ground. 1860 Wraxall Life in Sea ii. 33 He listened to the brilliant promises of a whaling captain. 1863 Mrs. Gaskell Sylvia's L. xvi, Stores had to be purchased by the whaling-masters. 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Col. Reformer xvi, The barque was empty and the whaling gear in trim. |
2. Comb. whaling station, a land base where whales which have been caught are flenched and rendered.
| 1874 C. M. Scammon Marine Mammals N.W. Coast N. Amer. iii. v. 247 At the point where the enormous carcass was stripped of its fat, arose the ‘whaling station’, whose trypots were set in rude furnaces..and capacious vats were made of planks, to receive the blubber. 1930 L. G. D. Acland Early Canterbury Runs 1st Ser. vi. 116 The country..was accessible on foot from the old shore whaling station. 1963 L. Diack Labrador Nurse v. 25 One night we tied up at a whaling station. 1977 C. McCullough Thorn Birds ii. 20 The eleven men..came out at the whaling station of Hobart. |
▪ II. ˈwhaling, vbl. n.2 dial. and U.S.
[f. whale v.2 + -ing1.]
Beating, thrashing.
| 1852 Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. xxxvi, How did yer whaling agree with yer, Tom? 1885 ‘C. E. Craddock’ Proph. Gt. Smoky Mts. ii. 44 From fear of a whaling by his active parent. |