[f. WHALE sb. or v.1 + -ING1.] The action, practice or business of catching whales.
1716. B. Church, Hist. Philip’s War (1867), II. 133. Whalemen … having a promise made to them, that they shall be released in good season to go home a Whaling in the Fall.
1851. H. Melville, Whale, xvi. ‘But what takes thee a-whaling?’… ‘Well, sir I want to see what whaling is.’
1895. Gore-Booth, Sea Fishing (Badm. Libr.), xvi. 497. The Arctics seem to have an extraordinary and incomprehensible attraction for some people; and when it is coupled with whaling, to the author it becomes almost irresistible.
b. attrib. or as ppl. a.
1821. Scott, Pirate, v. Ill-faur’d tools they had in their hands, whaaling knives, they ca’ed them.
1823. Scoresby, Voy. N. Whale-fishery, 34. The practice of such kinds of harmless frolic, as the circumstances of a whaling voyage will admit.
1836. Uncle Philip’s Convers. Whale Fishery, 6. There was a whaling ship fitting out for her voyage.
1843. Penny Cycl., XXVII. 752/1. The number of whales has greatly decreased on the whaling-ground.
1860. Wraxall, Life in Sea, ii. 33. He listened to the brilliant promises of a whaling captain.
1863. Mrs. Gaskell, Sylvia’s Lovers, xvi. Stores had to be purchased by the whaling-masters.
1890. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer, xvi. The barque was empty and the whaling gear in trim.
