Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A keen-edged spade used to remove the layer of blubber which envelops a whale's body.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word blubber-spade.

Examples

  • Driving away the clamorous and ravenous sea fowl, he had dug down with his blubber-spade into the vitals of the whale and recovered the gray, spongy, ill-smelling mass which was worth so great a sum to the perfumer.

    Cap'n Abe, Storekeeper James A. Cooper

  • Tom made a cut at him with his blubber-spade, but the shark rolled off in time to escape the blow.

    Fighting the Whales 1859

  • Tom made a cut at him with his blubber-spade, but the shark rolled off in time to escape the blow.

    Fighting the Whales 1859

  • Hanging along our gunwales inside, were six harpoons, three lances, and a blubber-spade; all keen as razors, and sheathed with leather.

    Mardi: and A Voyage Thither, Vol. I (of 2) Herman Melville 1855

  • While I was handing a blubber-spade to old David, as I looked over the side of the boat, I saw a pair of bright green eyes glancing up at me with such a knowing, wicked look, that I drew back with a shudder, thinking it was some uncommon monster of the deep, who was watching for an opportunity to carry one of us off.

    Peter the Whaler William Henry Giles Kingston 1847

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.