whaling gun (english) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

Noun

Phonetic Transcription

/ˈweɪlɪŋ ɡʌn/

Meaning and Usage

A whaling gun is a specialized firearm designed primarily for the hunting of whales. These guns are typically modified to fire explosive harpoons that are used to capture or kill whales. In English, the term is most commonly used in maritime and environmental discussions, particularly in historical contexts relating to whaling practices.

Frequency of Use: The term is relatively niche and is used more in written contexts, such as academic texts and historical accounts involving whaling activities, rather than in everyday spoken language.

Example Sentences

1. The crew prepared the whaling gun for the expedition into the icy waters.

2. Корабль подготовил китобойное ружье для экспедиции в ледяные воды.

3. As whaling became heavily regulated, the use of the whaling gun diminished significantly.

4. С увеличением регулирования китобойного промысла использование китобойного ружья значительно сократилось.

5. The historical museum displayed an old whaling gun used during the 19th century.

6. Исторический музей выставил старое китобойное ружье, использовавшееся в 19 веке.

Idiomatic Expressions

The term "whaling gun" does not appear frequently in idiomatic expressions; however, the concept of whaling can be related to various expressions that touch on broader themes of hunting or targeting certain objectives. Here are some related expressions:

1. "To go whaling" - to hunt for something, often used figuratively for large or ambitious targets.
2. In the corporate world, companies often go whaling to capture large contracts.

3. В корпоративном мире компании часто занимаются китобойным промыслом, чтобы завоевать крупные контракты.

4. "Whale of a time" - having a great time or a lot of fun, sometimes informally referring to significant behavior.

5. They had a whale of a time celebrating their victory.

6. Они прекрасно провели время, отмечая свою победу.

7. "To be a whale" - refers to someone who is very important in a particular context, often used in business.

8. With that deal, he became a whale in the industry.
9. С этой сделкой он стал важной фигурой в индустрии.

Etymology

The term "whaling" originates from the Old English word hwæl, meaning "whale," and the word "gun" comes from the Old Norse gunnr, meaning "battle." The phrase itself likely came into usage during the height of commercial whaling in the 17th to 19th centuries.

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms: - Harpoon gun - Cetacean gun

Antonyms: - Fishing rod (for non-lethal catching) - Speargun (less specialized towards large marine mammals)

This comprehensive overview can help deepen your understanding of the term whaling gun and its context within both historical and modern discussions surrounding whaling practices.