Whale oil
Whale Oil
Whale oil (pronunciation: /weɪl ɔɪl/), also known as train oil, is an oil obtained from the blubber of whales.
Etymology
The term "whale oil" comes from the Old English words "hwæl" meaning whale and "olie" meaning oil. The term "train oil" is derived from the Dutch word "traan" which means tear or drop, referring to the method of obtaining the oil by boiling the blubber of whales.
Production
Whale oil was obtained through a process known as flensing, where the blubber of the whale was cut into pieces and then boiled. The oil was then skimmed off the top and stored in barrels for later use.
Uses
Whale oil was used for a variety of purposes including as a fuel for lamps, in the production of soap and margarine, and as a lubricant for machinery. It was also used in the manufacture of paint, varnish, and leather.
Related Terms
- Blubber: The layer of fat found beneath the skin of whales and other marine mammals from which whale oil is derived.
- Flensing: The process of cutting up and boiling the blubber of whales to obtain whale oil.
- Train oil: Another term for whale oil, derived from the Dutch word "traan" meaning tear or drop.
See Also
- Whaling: The hunting of whales for their oil, meat, and baleen.
- Sperm oil: An oil obtained from the head cavity of the sperm whale, distinct from whale oil derived from the blubber.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Whale oil
- Wikipedia's article - Whale oil
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