flense

[ flens ]

verb (used with object)

, flensed, flens·ing.

1. to strip the blubber or the skin from (a whale, seal, etc.).
2. to strip off (blubber or skin).

flense

/ flɛns; flɪntʃ; flɛntʃ /

verb

1. tr to strip (a whale, seal, etc) of (its blubber or skin)

Derived Forms

• ˈflenser, noun

Other Words From

• flenser noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of flense¹

1805–15; < Danish flense or Dutch flensen

Word History and Origins

Origin of flense¹

C19: from Danish flense ; related to Dutch flensen

Example Sentences

Calm down, blade aficionados — this is not to insinuate that you are all weird LARPers or would-be Hannibal Lecters, tamping down an urge to flense and flay.

From Salon

“Green tips of tulips are rising out of the earth— / you don’t flense a whale or fire at beer cans / in an arroyo but catch the budding / tips of pear branches and wonder,” Sze writes.

From New York Times

A team of workers was waiting, getting ready to flense the carcasses.

From New York Times

Each whale is different, and Parata and his team acknowledge this by giving each whale they flense a unique name.

From National Geographic

“Jeff’s? She’s great, I think. Fine. Okay, so here we’ve pulled the whale up beside the ship. This was the greatest feeling. Now they have to ‘flense’ the whale, or remove all its blubber in huge mats.

From Literature