noun
baleen
buh-LEEN/bʌlˈin/
Keratin plates in the mouths of certain whales that filter food from water.
The whale strains tiny animals from the water through its baleen.
Etymology
Greek phallaina meant “whale”; the connection is from the animal to the material traditionally called whalebone. Baleen names the flexible mouth plates used to strain food.
In context
they close their mouths and the water blows out the baleen holds all of the edible creatures which are swallowed whole
More examples
- Long plates of baleen hang from the upper jaw.
- The museum displays a section of baleen beside a whale skeleton.
- Flexible baleen was once used in various manufactured objects.
Similar words
- whalebone
- Is an older name for baleen, although it is not bone.
- filter
- Names the function more generally rather than this anatomical material.