whalebone
[ hweyl-bohn, weyl- ]
/ ˈʰweɪlˌboʊn, ˈweɪl- /
noun
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.
a thin strip of this substance, for stiffening a corset.
Words nearby whalebone
whale of a time,
whale oil,
whale shark,
whaleback,
whaleboat,
whalebone,
whalebone whale,
whaleman,
whalen,
whaler,
whaler shark
Example sentences from the Web for whalebone
British Dictionary definitions for whalebone
whalebone
/ (ˈweɪlˌbəʊn) /
noun
Also called: baleen
a horny elastic material forming a series of numerous thin plates that hang from the upper jaw on either side of the palate in the toothless (whalebone) whales and strain plankton from water entering the mouth
a thin strip of this substance, used in stiffening corsets, bodices, etc