whalebone

noun

whale·​bone ˈ(h)wāl-ˌbōn How to pronounce whalebone (audio)
1
: baleen
2
: an article made of whalebone

Examples of whalebone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Baleen–or whalebone–is a hard substance made up of keratin. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Feb. 2024 Some, like the Rat Hole, are pure happenstance: Take the daikon radish growing through concrete under an overpass in Osaka, Japan, for example, or the whalebone on the coast of Scotland that looks like a bird taking flight. Steffi Cao, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2024 If that were not enough, the gown sits atop a bespoke underpinning made of whalebone. Brande Victorian, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 May 2023 Designers and dressmakers used whalebone to provide the structure for corsets and skirts. David Reamer | Alaska History, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Feb. 2023 Eyelets show where the bodice was once laced, and there are imprints from whalebone stiffeners that were used for shaping. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 17 Feb. 2023 Strips of whalebone create the shape in the bodice. Simon Perry, Peoplemag, 17 Feb. 2023 Under the leadership of the indomitable Cristabel, and with scenery devised by a louche Russian painter, the children put on theatrical productions staged in a whalebone structure. Katherine A. Powers, Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2022 According to the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, corsets date back around the 1500s and were originally made from rigid, uncomfortable materials like whalebone and animal horns to mold women's bodies into the idealized hourglass shape. Leah Dolan, CNN, 14 Oct. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'whalebone.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of whalebone was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near whalebone

Cite this Entry

“Whalebone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whalebone. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

whalebone

noun
whale·​bone -ˌbōn How to pronounce whalebone (audio)
: baleen

More from Merriam-Webster on whalebone

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!