whaling gun
- noun
- /ˈweɪlɪŋ ɡʌn/
- Archaic
:
arponera
- The crew loaded the whaling gun as they prepared to approach the giant whale.
Examples
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Early whalers relied on the whaling gun to make their catches more efficient and less dangerous.
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After years of disuse, the rusty whaling gun was displayed in the maritime museum.
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The whaling gun was a crucial tool for the hunters.
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Many whaling guns were used in the 19th century.
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The crew loaded the whaling gun as they prepared to approach the giant whale.
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Early whalers relied on the whaling gun to make their catches more efficient and less dangerous.
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After years of disuse, the rusty whaling gun was displayed in the maritime museum.
Synonyms
1
6.9
A device that shoots a long pointed spear to catch large sea animals like whales or fish
How Powerful
- Archaic
194
1.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a gun used for whaling' is directly and compositionally derived from 'whaling' (the activity of hunting whales) combined with 'gun' (a firearm or projectile device). This follows a regular gerund/adjective + noun pattern common in English and in other languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer the meaning.
Etymology
Whaling gun names the simple, literal idea of a heavy gun used in whaling. Sailors fired a harpoon or explosive from the ship to strike a whale, so the phrase means 'a gun or device for hunting whales'.