whiting

views updated May 11 2018

whit·ing1 / ˈ(h)wīting/ • n. (pl. same) 1. a slender-bodied marine fish (Merlangius merlangus) of the cod family. It lives in shallow European waters and is a commercially important food fish. 2. any of a number of similar marine fishes, in particular the northern kingfish of eastern North America.whit·ing2 • n. ground chalk used for purposes such as whitewashing and cleaning metal plate.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

whiting

views updated May 17 2018

whiting Several unrelated food fish. The European whiting (Merlangus merlangus) is a haddock-like fish of the cod family, Gadidae. It is found primarily in the North Sea, where it feeds on invertebrates and small fish. It is silver with distinctive black markings at the base of the pectoral fin. Length: to 70cm (28in). Other fish commonly called whitings include the kingfish, Menticirrhus saxatilis, and the freshwater whitefish, Coregonus clupeaformis.

World Encyclopedia

whiting

views updated May 14 2018

whiting1 fish of the genus Merlangus. XV. — (M)Du. wijting; see WHITE, -ING3, and cf. ON. hvítingr white whale, late OE. hwītling (perh.) whiting.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

whiting

views updated May 14 2018

whiting2 †whitewashing; finely powdered chalk as used for this XV. f. WHITE vb. + -ING1.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

whiting

views updated May 21 2018

whiting White fish, Merlangius merlangus.

A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition DAVID A. BENDER

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