Baleen

Origin

From Old French baleine ("whale, whalebone"), from Latin balaena ("whale"), from Ancient Greek φάλαινα ("whale").

Noun

1. (physiology, uncountable) The plates in the mouth of the baleen whale, Mysticeti, which it uses to trap its food; formerly used in corsetry
• 1954, Alexander Alderson, The Subtle Minotaur Chapter 5, “You have probably never seen anything like this before, Mr. Toler. It is baleen, or if you prefer it, whalebone#Noun
2. (zoology, countable) a baleen whale

Synonyms

• whalebone

Anagrams

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