noun
blubber
BLUB-er/ˈblʌbər/
A thick layer of body fat, especially in whales and other marine mammals.
The seal has a thick layer of blubber beneath its skin.
Etymology
Middle English blober meant a bubble or foaming water and was probably imitative of bubbling sounds. The word was later used for whale oil before coming to name the thick fat of marine mammals.
In context
Whales cement this challenge with blubber, a thick layer of fat under their skin.
More examples
- The whale relies on its blubber for energy during migration.
- Blubber helps walruses stay warm in icy water.
- Workers once boiled whale blubber to extract oil.
Forms
blubber
Similar words
- fat
- A broader term for fatty tissue throughout an animal's body.
- adipose tissue
- The anatomical term for fat tissue, not specifically marine insulation.