whalebone

[ hweyl-bohn, weyl- ]

noun

1. baleen ( def ).
2. a thin strip of this substance, as for stiffening a corset.

whalebone

/ ˈweɪlˌbəʊn /

noun

1. Also calledbaleen 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of whalebone¹

First recorded in 1600–10; whale ¹ + bone

Example Sentences

The suffragettes got us the vote and they did it in whalebone corsets.

From The Daily Beast

These steel ribs and this whalebone make it more like a piece of harness than anything else I can think of.

From Project Gutenberg

She bit and thrashed and tore at him, her bare little body hard as whalebone and slippery with sweat.

From Project Gutenberg

The travellers consisted of an old French lady and gentleman; Madame in a high crimped cap, and stiff long whalebone stays.

From Project Gutenberg

Well, if the oil is replaced and whalebone has no value, what is to be got out of whaling now, then?

From Project Gutenberg

But within the last ten years there have been so many substitutes for whalebone that its value has gone down.

From Project Gutenberg