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.

Origin of whalebone

First recorded in 1175–1225; whale1 + bone

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