whale
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To thrash, to flog, to beat vigorously or soundly.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Brought him back, put him in the stall—low stable—got out of his reach, and then begun to whale him. Then he kicked up agin; […]
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “whale” mean?
To thrash, to flog, to beat vigorously or soundly.
Is “whale” formal or informal?
whale is generally slang.