whale

Signification

Noun

1. Any one of numerous large marine mammals comprising an informal group within infraorder Cetacea that usually excludes dolphins and porpoises.
2. Any species of Cetacea.
3. Something, or someone, that is very large.
4. Something, or someone, that is excellent.
5. In a casino, a person who routinely bets at the maximum limit allowable.
6. (informal) An investor who deals with very large amounts of money.
7. A person who spends large amounts of money on things that are marketed to them.
8. (colloquial) An overweight person (usually a woman)

Verb

To hunt for whales.

Verb

To thrash, to flog, to beat vigorously or soundly.

Prononcé comme (IPA)

/weɪl/

Étymologie

From Middle English whale, from Old English hwæl (“whale”), from Proto-West Germanic *hwal, from Proto-Germanic *hwalaz (“whale”) (compare German Wal, Swedish val, Danish and Norwegian Bokmål hval, Norwegian Nynorsk kval; compare also Dutch walvis, West Frisian walfisk, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kʷálos (“sheatfish”) (compare German Wels, Latin squalus (“big sea fish”), Old Prussian kalis, Ancient Greek ἄσπαλος (áspalos), Avestan 𐬐𐬀𐬭𐬀 (kara, “kind of fish”)).