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Archiver > OLD-WORDS > 1999-04 > 0923036421


From: "Harold Torode" <>
Subject: Re: Whale the tar
Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1999 08:00:21 +0100


Phyllis

>What about the expression "whale the tar" out of somebody? I know what it
>meant---Father was getting his razor strop for disciplinary purposes. But,
>whale is a large fish-like creature and tar is a substance used in roofing.
> What is the connection?

There isn't if you spell it that way. Spell it the other way and it makes
more sense.

A wale is a thick broad timber along a ships side. Tar was used to caulk it
so that it's joints didn't leak. Now the expression does start to make more
sense.

Harold

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