baleen

Meaning

Noun

• The bony material that makes up the plates in the mouth of the baleen whale, Mysticeti, which it uses to trap its food; formerly used in corsetry.
• A baleen whale,
• A whale or other large fish.

Origin

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