baleen

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English baleyne, from Old French baleine (“whale, whalebone”), from Latin balaena (“whale”), from Ancient Greek φάλαινα (phálaina, “whale”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /bəˈliːn/, /ˈbeɪliːn/ Rhymes: -iːn, -eɪliːn === Noun === baleen (countable and uncountable, plural baleens) (physiology, uncountable) keratinous 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. Synonym: whalebone (zoology, countable) A baleen whale (Mysticeti). (obsolete) A whale or other large fish. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === References === James A. H. Murray et al., editors (1884–1928), “Baleen”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume I (A–B), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 635, column 2. === Anagrams === enable == Basque == === Noun === baleen genitive plural of balea == Spanish == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /baˈleen/ [baˈle.ẽn] Rhymes: -een Syllabification: ba‧le‧en === Verb === baleen inflection of balear: third-person plural present subjunctive third-person plural imperative