whal

See also: Whal

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

    Inherited from Old English hwæl, from Proto-West Germanic *hwal, from Proto-Germanic *hwalaz.

    The form with /aː/ originates from open-syllable lengthening in inflected forms, while the form swale may reflect the influence of squalus.

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /hwal/, /hwaːl/
    • (dialectal) IPA(key): /w-/, /xw-/

    Noun

    whal (plural whales or whalles)

    1. A whale or cetacean.
    2. (rare) An oceanic monster.
    3. (rare) The meat of the whale.

    Descendants

    • English: whale
    • Scots: whaul

    References

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