Word Study
basking shark
CIDE DICTIONARY
basking shark,
One of the largest species of sharks (Cetorhinus maximus ), so called from its habit of basking in the sun; the liver shark , or bone shark . It inhabits the northern seas of Europe and America, and grows to a length of more than forty feet. It is a harmless species. [1913 Webster]
For further exploring for "basking shark" in Webster Dictionary Online