Noun

(en noun)

Any of several species of large sea mammals of the order Cetacea.

* {{quote-magazine, date=2013-08-03, volume=408, issue=8847, magazine=(The Economist)

, title= Yesterday’s fuel , passage=The dawn of the oil age was fairly recent. Although the stuff was used to waterproof boats in the Middle East 6,000 years ago, extracting it in earnest began only in 1859 after an oil strike in Pennsylvania.

(figuratively) Something, or someone, that is very large.

* 1920 September, “A Reformed Free Lance” (pseudonym), “Doctoring a Sick Encyclopedia”, in The Writer , Volume XXXII, Number 9, page 131:

It was a whale of a job. It took two months, and the fair blush of youth off my cheeks.

* 1947 May 19, John Chamberlain, “Will Clayton and his Problem”, in , page 120:

But when it comes to his business life and business career, is not as other men; he is such a whale of a lot better that it suggests a qualitative as well as a quantitative difference.

(gambling) (In a casino) a person who routinely bets at the maximum limit allowable.

* 2003 , Jeff Wuorio, How to Buy and Sell (Just About) Everything ,

These are often no-limit games as maximum bets cramp a whale ’s style.

* 2004 , Norm Clarke, Vegas Confidential: Norm! Sin City's Ace Insider 1,000 Naked Truths, Hot Spots and Cool Stuff ,

A handful of the richest whales routinely play for $200,000 a hand. Australian media mogul Kerry Packer not only regularly bets that much, but has plunked down $200,000 bets for the dealer as a form of a tip.

* 2008', Deke Castleman, '''''Whale Hunt in the Desert ,

The high roller who had the most ferocious reputation for trying to run the business of the casinos where he played, before he died on December 26, 2006, was Kerry Packer. In the casino world, Packer was the Prince of Whales .

Noun

(en noun)

An item of furniture used to sit on or in comprising a seat, legs, back, and sometimes arm rests, for use by one person. Compare stool, couch, sofa, settee, loveseat and bench.

* , chapter=12

, title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=There were many wooden chairs' for the bulk of his visitors, and two wicker arm' chairs with red cloth cushions for superior people. From the packing-cases had emerged some Indian clubs, […], and all these articles […] made a scattered and untidy decoration that Mrs. Clough assiduously dusted and greatly cherished.}}

* {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)

, chapter=19 citation , passage=Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair , and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him.}}

Chairperson.

* {{quote-book, year=1658-9, date=March 23, author=Thomas Burton, title=Diary

, passage=The Chair behaves himself like a Busby amongst so many school-boys

* {{quote-news, year=1887, date=September 5, work=The Times

, passage=It can hardly be conceived that the Chair would fail to gain the support of the House.}}

(music) The seating position of a particular musician in an orchestra.

(rail transport) Blocks that support and hold railroad track in position, and similar devices.

(chemistry) One of two possible conformers of cyclohexane rings (the other being boat), shaped roughly like a chair.

The electric chair.

A distinguished professorship at a university.

* '>citation

An iron block used on railways to support the rails and secure them to the sleepers.

A vehicle for one person; either a sedan borne upon poles, or a two-wheeled carriage drawn by one horse; a gig.

(Shakespeare)

* (Alexander Pope)

Think what an equipage thou hast in air, / And view with scorn two pages and a chair .