baleen
baleen
Definition
ba·leen (bə lēn′)
noun
the horny, elastic plates that hang down in fringed, parallel columns from the upper jaw or palate of baleen whales and serve as a strainer that catches plankton while a whale is feeding
Etymology: ME & OFr baleine < L ballaena < Gr phallaina, whale < phallos (see phallus): so named from the shape of the whale
baleen
Usage Examples
Converse of object
- have: Rorqual whales such as the fin and minke whales have much shorter, firmer baleen and feed by gulping.
Modifies a noun
Browse dictionary entries near baleen
- Balearic Islands
- Baleares
- bale
- baldy
- Baldwin Park
- Baldwin
- baldric
- baldpate
- baldness
- balding
- baleen whale
- balefire
- baleful
- Balfour
- Balfour Declaration
- Bali
- Balikesir
- Balinese
- balk
- Balkan
