Baleen

Quick meaning: Baleen is a noun meaning (zoology, countable) A baleen whale (Mysticeti).

Meaning

(zoology, countable) A baleen whale (Mysticeti).

More Meanings

1. (physiology, uncountable) keratinous material that makes up the plates in the mouth of the baleen whale (Mysticeti), which it uses to trap its food; formerly used in corsetry.
2. (obsolete) Any whale or large fish.

Example Sentences

Scammon estimates the number of baleens killed in the years 1835-72 at 131,000; once again, his figure needs to be adjusted.

The Balene is a fishe great and huge, much like to the Whale, and is so called, because of his outcasting and shedding of water, for they throwe water higher then other great fishes of the sea.

“You have probably never seen anything like this before, Mr. Toler. It is baleen, or if you prefer it, whalebone, taken from the mouth of the bowhead whale. It is used by the whale to filter its food.”

Word Forms

• baleens

Synonyms for baleen

Depending on context, synonyms include whalebone.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include whalebone, whales, balenopterid, balaenopteroid, whalefeed, balaenopterid.

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