Whalebone
(Whale"bone`) n. A firm, elastic substance resembling horn, taken from the upper jaw of the
right whale; baleen. It is used as a stiffening in stays, fans, screens, and for various other purposes. See
Baleen.
Whalebone is chiefly obtained from the bowhead, or Greenland, whale, the Biscay whale, and the Antarctic,
or southern, whale. It is prepared for manufacture by being softened by boiling, and dyed black.
Whaleman
(Whale"man) n.; pl. Whalemen A man employed in the whale fishery.
Whaler
(Whal"er) n. A vessel or person employed in the whale fishery.
Whaler
(Whal"er), n. One who whales, or beats; a big, strong fellow; hence, anything of great or unusual
size. [Colloq. U. S.]
Whaling
(Whal"ing), n. The hunting of whales.
Whaling
(Whal"ing), a. Pertaining to, or employed in, the pursuit of whales; as, a whaling voyage; a
whaling vessel.
Whall
(Whall) n. [See Wall-eye.] A light color of the iris in horses; wall-eye. [Written also whaul.]
Whally
(Whall"y) a. Having the iris of light color; — said of horses. "Whally eyes." Spenser.
Whame
(Whame) n. (Zoöl.) A breeze fly.
Whammel
(Wham"mel) v. t. [Cf. Whelm.] To turn over. [Prov. Eng.]
Whan
(Whan) adv. When. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Whang
(Whang) n. [Cf. Thong.] A leather thong. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U. S.]
Whang
(Whang), v. t. To beat. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U. S.]
Whanghee
(Whang*hee") n. (Bot.) See Wanghee.
Whap
(Whap Whop), v. i. [Cf. OE. quappen to palpitate, E. quob, quaver, wabble, awhape, wap.]
To throw one's self quickly, or by an abrupt motion; to turn suddenly; as, she whapped down on the floor; the
fish whapped over. Bartlett.
This word is used adverbially in the north of England, as in the United States, when anything vanishes,
or is gone suddenly; as, whap went the cigar out of my mouth.
Whap
(Whap, Whop), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Whapped ; p. pr. & vb. n. Whapping.] To beat or strike.
Whap
(Whap, Whop), n. A blow, or quick, smart stroke.
Whapper
(Whap"per Whop"per), n. [See Whap.] Something uncommonly large of the kind; something
astonishing; — applied especially to a bold lie. [Colloq.]
Whapping
(Whap"ping Whop"ping), a. Very large; monstrous; astonishing; as, a whapping story. [Colloq.]
Wharf
(Wharf) n.; pl. Wharfs (#) or Wharves [AS. hwerf, hwearf, a returning, a change, from hweorfan
to turn, turn about, go about; akin to D. werf a wharf, G. werft, Sw. varf a shipbuilder's yard, Dan.
verft wharf, dockyard, G. werben to enlist, to engage, woo, OHG. werban to turn about, go about, be
active or occupied, Icel. hverfa to turn, Goth. hwaírban, hwarbon, to walk. Cf. Whirl.]
