Now U.S. colloq. [Of obscure origin. Commonly regarded as a spelling of WALE v.1, but there are difficulties of form, chronology and meaning. Perhaps orig. = to thrash with a whalebone whip (see WHALEBONE 3 b).]
1. trans. To beat, flog, thrash.
1790. Grose, Prov. Gloss. (ed. 2), Whale, to beat with a horsewhip or pliant stick.
1801. Col. G. Hanger, Life, II. 162. Whaleing a gentleman is but a vulgar revenge.
1884. ‘Mark Twain,’ Huck. Finn, iii. He used to always whale me when he was sober and could get his hands on me.
2. transf. intr. To do something implied by the context continuously or vehemently.
1897. Barrère & Leland, Dict. Slang, To whale away, (Amer.), to preach, talk, or lecture away continuously or vehemently.
1908. H. Day, King Spruce, xxiv. You don’t think I’ve whaled up here hell-tilarrup on a jumper to sit down and talk about women, do you?
1915. Morning Post, 1 June, 4/4. They … snatched these rifles up, and whaled away at our chaps.
