society > occupation and work > industry > whaling and seal-hunting > whaling > whaling equipment > [noun] > device to check progress of whale (2)
Whaling. A contrivance attached to the end of a harpoon line to check the progress of a whale when running or sounding.
Whaling. An indicator carried at the top of one of the masts of a whaling ship to guide boats towards whales. Obsolete.