The practice of hunting whales for their oil, meat, and other products; an industry that was historically significant for lighting and lubrication.
From Old English hwæl meaning 'whale' plus -ing suffix. The word comes from Proto-Germanic khwalaz, possibly imitative of the whale's breathing sound. Whaling as an industry peaked in the 19th century before petroleum replaced whale oil.
Whaling literally illuminated the pre-electric world - whale oil was the premium lighting fuel that lit homes, streets, and lighthouses. The phrase 'having a whale of a time' ironically comes from this dangerous, often tragic industry that decimated whale populations.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.