whaling
whaling Lexical Profile
whaling Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The practice, occupation, or industry of hunting and killing whales for their oil, meat, or bone.
"International treaties in the twentieth century severely restricted commercial whaling to protect endangered marine populations."
In cybersecurity, a targeted phishing attack directed specifically at senior executives or other high-profile individuals within an organization to steal sensitive information or authorize financial transfers.
"The security briefing warned board members about whaling schemes disguised as urgent legal subpoenas."
Informally, a severe beating, thrashing, or decisive defeat.
"The visiting team took a whaling in the championship game."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'whaling' with the homophone 'wailing', which means crying out in grief or making a prolonged high-pitched sound.
• Rhymes for whaling
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in English from the verb 'whale' (from Old English 'hwæl') plus the gerund suffix '-ing', historically referring to the commercial hunting of whales for blubber, oil, and baleen from the 17th century onward.