- whalebone
- noun Date: 15th century 1. baleen 2. an article made of whalebone
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
whalebone
Look at other dictionaries:
Whalebone — Whale bone , n. A firm, elastic substance resembling horn, taken from the upper jaw of the right whale; baleen. It is used as a stiffening in stays, fans, screens, and for various other purposes. See {Baleen}. [1913 Webster] Note: Whalebone is… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
whalebone — ► NOUN 1) an elastic horny substance which grows in a series of thin parallel plates in the upper jaw of some whales and is used by them to strain plankton from the seawater. 2) strips of this substance, formerly used as stays in corsets and… … English terms dictionary
whalebone — [hwāl′bōn΄, wāl′bōn΄] n. 1. BALEEN 2. something made of baleen: formerly much used for corset stays and whips … English World dictionary
whalebone — /hwayl bohn , wayl /, n. 1. an elastic, horny substance growing in place of teeth in the upper jaw of certain whales, and forming a series of thin, parallel plates on each side of the palate; baleen. 2. a thin strip of this substance, for… … Universalium
whalebone — whale•bone [[t]ˈ(h)weɪlˌboʊn, ˈweɪl [/t]] n. 1) mam Also called baleen an elastic, horny substance hanging in fringed platelike sheets from the upper jaws of whalebone whales and serving to strain plankton. 2) clo something made of this substance … From formal English to slang
whalebone — n. an elastic horny substance growing in thin parallel plates in the upper jaw of some whales, used as stiffening etc. Phrases and idioms: whalebone whale a baleen whale … Useful english dictionary
whalebone whale — n. BALEEN WHALE … English World dictionary
Whalebone Court — 1) South out of Moorgate Street Buildings to Telegraph Street and Whalebone Passage, leading into Tokenhouse Yard (L.C.C. List, 1912). In Coleman Street Ward. First mention: Strype, 1720. Shown but not named in the later maps. In… … Dictionary of London
whalebone whale — any whale of the suborder Mysticeti, having plates of whalebone on the sides of the upper jaw for filtering plankton from the water. Also called baleen whale. Cf. toothed whale. [1715 25] * * * … Universalium
Whalebone Passage — North out of Tokenhouse Yard, a narrow footway (L.C.C. List, 1912). Leading into Whalebone Court, Moorgate Street Buildings (q.v.), hence the name … Dictionary of London
