Where does “흰고래” come from?
흰고래 (Korean) comes from Korean 고래 — whale; strong drinker; hypocaust, underfloor flue.
흰고래 (Korean): beluga whale, "Delphinapterus leucas"
Definitions
- beluga whale, "Delphinapterus leucas"
Ancestry of “흰고래”, step by step
흰고래 traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Korean 고래
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Korean | 고래 | whale; strong drinker; hypocaust, underfloor flue |
via Korean 흰
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Korean | 흰 | attributive form of 희다 |