The word 'whiting' is a straightforward English compound. It originates from the Old English adjective 'hwīt', meaning 'bright' or 'shining', which evolved into the modern word 'white'. The suffix '-ing' was added to form a noun denoting something characterized by whiteness. This logical construction was first applied to the fish, noted for its distinctive silvery-white color, and later extended to the white powdered chalk, directly linking the physical property of the material to its name.

Structure: whit (white) + ing (noun suffix) 'Whit' is from the Old English root 'hwīt', meaning 'white'. 'Ing' is a common Old English suffix used to form nouns, often indicating 'one belonging to' or 'of the nature of'.