C14: from Latin bālaena whale; related to Greek phalaina whale
whalebone in British English
(ˈweɪlˌbəʊn)
noun
1. Also called: baleen
a horny elastic material forming a series of numerous thin plates that hang from the upper jaw on either side of the palate in the toothless (whalebone) whales and strain plankton from water entering the mouth
2.
a thin strip of this substance, used in stiffening corsets, bodices, etc
baleen in American English
(bəˈlin)
noun
the horny, elastic plates that hang down in fringed, parallel columns from the upper jaw or palate of baleen whales and serve as a strainer that catches plankton while a whale is feeding
Word origin
ME & OFr baleine < L ballaena < Gr phallaina, whale < phallos (see phallus): so named from the shape of the whale