Obs. Also 6 wall-, whal(le)-, 6–7 wale-. (repr. unrecorded OE. *hwælfisc, or a. MLG., MDu., Du. walvisch = OHG. walvisc (MHG. -visch, G. walfisch), ON. hvalfiskr: see WHALE sb. and FISH sb.1] A whale.

1

c. 1511.  1st Eng. Bk. Amer. (Arb.), Introd. 28/1. There by be many walelysshes & flyinge fysshes.

2

1535.  Coverdale, Ps. cxlviii. 7. Prayse the Lorde vpon earth, ye whalfishes and all depes.

3

1546.  Gassar’s Prognost., A v b. The Son in the same euening shall go doune or set with the tayle of the Whalle fish.

4

1582.  N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., I. ii. 6 b. These people doe mainteine themselues with rootes of hearbes, with Sea Woulfes, and Whale fish.

5

1615.  R. Cocks, Diary (Hakl. Soc.), I. 91. 2 pec. wale fyshe.

6

1635.  R. Johnson, Hist. Tom a Lincolne (1828), 105. The whale fishes lay wallowing in the waves.

7

1712.  Phil. Trans., XXVII. 440. About two Years ago there came a Stranger to me, who had two Penis’s of the Whale Fish.

8