(hwāl) noun
1. A cetaceous mammal of fishlike form, especially one of the larger pelagic species, as distinguished from dolphins and porpoises. Whales have the fore limbs developed as broad flattened paddles, the hind limbs absent, and a thick layer of fat or blubber immediately beneath the skin. The principal types are the toothless or whalebone whales (suborder Mysticeti), and the toothed whales (suborder Odontoceti).
2. Colloq. Something extremely good or large: a whale of a party.
—v.i. whaled, whal·ing To engage in the hunting of whales. [OE hwæl]

(hwāl) v.t. whaled, whal·ing Colloq.
To strike as if to produce wales or stripes; flog; wale. [Var. of WALE¹, v.]