whale 1 
(wāl, hwāl)
(wāl, hwāl)n.
1.
a. Any of various marine mammals of the order Cetacea; a cetacean.
b. Any of various larger members of this order, including the blue whale, humpback whale, and right whale, in contrast to the porpoises and dolphins.
2. Informal An impressive example: a whale of a story.
intr.v. whaled, whal·ing, whales
To engage in the hunting of whales.
[Middle English, from Old English hwæl.]