Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Merganser \Mer*gan"ser\, n. [Sp. merg['a]nsar, fr. mergo a diver
   (L. mergus, fr. mergere to dip, dive) + ['a]nsar goose, L.
   anser.] (Zo["o]l.)
   Any bird of the genus {Merganser}, and allied genera. They
   are allied to the ducks, but have a sharply serrated bill.

   Note: The red-breasted merganser ({Merganser serrator})
         inhabits both hemispheres. It is called also {sawbill},
         {harle}, and {sheldrake}. The American merganser ({M.
         Americanus}.) and the hooded merganser ({Lophodytes
         cucullatus}) are well-known species.

   {White merganser}, the smew or white nun.

Whiting \Whit"ing\, n. [From {White}.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.)
      (a) A common European food fish ({Melangus vulgaris}) of
          the Codfish family; -- called also {fittin}.
      (b) A North American fish ({Merlucius vulgaris}) allied to
          the preceding; -- called also {silver hake}.
      (c) Any one of several species of North American marine
          sci[ae]noid food fishes belonging to genus
          {Menticirrhus}, especially {M. Americanus}, found from
          Maryland to Brazil, and {M. littoralis}, common from
          Virginia to Texas; -- called also {silver whiting},
          and {surf whiting}.

   Note: Various other fishes are locally called whiting, as the
         kingfish
      (a), the sailor's choice
      (b), the Pacific tomcod, and certain species of lake
          whitefishes.

   2. Chalk prepared in an impalpable powder by pulverizing and
      repeated washing, used as a pigment, as an ingredient in
      putty, for cleaning silver, etc.

   {Whiting pollack}. (Zo["o]l.) Same as {Pollack}.

   {Whiting pout} (Zo["o]l.), the bib, 2.