baleenn.
/bəˈliːn/, U.S. /bəˈlin/ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > order Cetacea (whales) > [noun] > large member of (whale)
whalec893
cethegrandec1220
baleen1387
whalefish?c1510
hurlpool1553
sog1839
blower1854
1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Rolls Ser.) i. xli Baleynes, grete fisches as hit were of whales kynde.
c1450 in Wright Voc. (W.) /704 Balena, a balene.
c1480 W. Caxton tr. Ovid Met. xii. xv Balaynes or whales, dolphins, mermaydes..and alle other fyshes.
1572 J. Bossewell Wks. Armorie ii. f. 65 Balene is a fishe greate and huge.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 238 From the forehead, in the Balænes.
2. ? The fish called Sea-bream: ‘perhaps from its supposed habit, mentioned by Pliny, of accompanying the balæna or whale’ (Riley Gloss. to Lib. Custum. 785/1).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > fish > superorder Acanthopterygii (spiny fins) > order Perciformes (perches) > family Sparidae (sea-breams) > [noun] > member of (sea-bream)
baleenc1185
sea-bream1530
old wife1585
pargo1589
ruffle1601
sargon1601
sargus1605
sea-liver1611
ruffe1647
silver-fish1703
porgy1725
brassem1731
red gilt-head1776
sparoid1842
panga1902
c1185 Neckam in Wright Voc. 97 Musculus, baleyne.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. lxxxiv For the firste Course. Brawne and mustarde. Dedellys in Burneux. Frument with Balien. Pyke in Erbage.
1720 J. Strype tr. Statuta de Poletria & Pisce in Stow's Survey of London (rev. ed.) II. v. xxvii. 366/2 An hundred better Balenes of the same Year salted, for 16s. that is, 2d. per Pound.
3. Whalebone. Also attributive or as adj.The meaning is uncertain in some early quotations.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > bone or horn > [noun] > bone > whalebone
baleenc1325
whale-horn1562
whalebone1604
fin1634
c1325 Coeur de L. 2982 Off balayn, both scheeld & targe.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid v. vii. 73 Erix was wont..In that hard bellane his brawnis to embrace.
a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1959) vii. xii. 67 A ballen [v.r. balen 1553] pavys coverys thar left sydis.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccccxix. 734 Gantlettes of steele and baleyne.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) III. 453 Cors-bowis of ballane that war gude.
1708 Chamberlayne's Magnæ Britanniæ Notitia (1743) ii. i. iii. 331 Great whales of the Baleen, or whale bone kind.
1824 S. R. Meyrick Crit. Inq. into Antient Armour III. Gloss. Balon, balein, balayn. Whalebone applied to the purpose of making crests for helmets, or swords and shields for peaceable tournaments. The word is derived from balæna.
1835–6 Todd's Cycl. Anat. & Physiol. I. 573/2 At each side of their [i.e. whales'] palate grow, transversely, horny plates, named baleen.
1835–6 Todd's Cycl. Anat. & Physiol. I. 573/2 The base of each baleen~plate.
1874 J. G. Wood Out of Doors 142 When first born, the young whale is without the baleen.
Compounds
baleen whale n. a whalebone whale; any member of the order Mysticeti; also elliptical.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > order Cetacea (whales) > suborder Mystacoceti > [noun] > member of
whale-mouse1607
skull-fish1668
whale's guide1668
bonefish1734
mysticete1797
baleen whale1874
mystacocete1883
1874 C. M. Scammon Marine Mammals N. Amer. vi. 66 This great northern baleen whale, in its principal proportions, resembles the Balœna mysticetus.
1878 Cassell's Nat. Hist. II. 257 Scammon says that three or four [killer-whales] do not hesitate to grapple with the largest Baleen Whales.
1958 Times 12 Nov. 11/6 There are two kinds of whale caught, the baleen and the sperm.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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