(Zool.), a rather large and swift baleen whale of the northern Pacific (Eschrichtius robustus, formerly Rhachianectes glaucus), having short jaws and no dorsal fin; -- called also grayback, devilfish, and hardhead. It grows to a length of 50 feet (sometimes 60 feet). It was formerly taken in large numbers in the bays of California, and is now rare. It lives up to 50 or 60 years and adults weigh from 20 to 40 tons. [ 1913 Webster + PJC ]

n. the humpback{ 3 }. [ PJC ]

n. see killer{ 2 }. [ PJC ]

(Zool.) (a) The bowhead, Arctic, or Greenland whale (Balaena mysticetus), from whose mouth the best whalebone is obtained. (b) Any other whale that produces valuable whalebone, as the Atlantic, or Biscay, right whale (Balaena cisarctica), and the Pacific right whale (Balaena Sieboldii); a bone whale. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pygmy right whale (Zool.), a small New Zealand whale (Neobalaena marginata) which is only about sixteen feet long. It produces short, but very elastic and tough, whalebone. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) A very large toothed whale (Physeter macrocephalus), having a head of enormous size. The upper jaw is destitute of teeth. In the upper part of the head, above the skull, there is a large cavity, or case, filled with oil and spermaceti. This whale sometimes grows to the length of more than eighty feet. It is found in the warmer parts of all the oceans. Called also cachalot, and spermaceti whale. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pygmy sperm whale (Zool.), a small whale (Kogia breviceps), seldom twenty feet long, native of tropical seas, but occasionally found on the American coast. Called also snub-nosed cachalot. --
Sperm-whale porpoise (Zool.), a toothed cetacean (Hyperoodon bidens), found on both sides of the Atlantic and valued for its oil. The adult becomes about twenty-five feet long, and its head is very large and thick. Called also bottle-nosed whale. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. whal, AS. hwæl; akin to D. walvisch, G. wal, walfisch, OHG. wal, Icel. hvalr, Dan. & Sw. hval, hvalfisk. Cf. Narwhal, Walrus. ] (Zool.) Any aquatic mammal of the order Cetacea, especially any one of the large species, some of which become nearly one hundred feet long. Whales are hunted chiefly for their oil and baleen, or whalebone. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The existing whales are divided into two groups: the toothed whales (Odontocete), including those that have teeth, as the cachalot, or sperm whale (see Sperm whale); and the baleen, or whalebone, whales (Mysticete), comprising those that are destitute of teeth, but have plates of baleen hanging from the upper jaw, as the right whales. The most important species of whalebone whales are the bowhead, or Greenland, whale (see Illust. of Right whale), the Biscay whale, the Antarctic whale, the gray whale (see under Gray), the humpback, the finback, and the rorqual. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whale bird. (Zool.) (a) Any one of several species of large Antarctic petrels which follow whaling vessels, to feed on the blubber and floating oil; especially, Prion turtur (called also blue petrel), and Pseudoprion desolatus. (b) The turnstone; -- so called because it lives on the carcasses of whales. [ Canada ] --
Whale fin (Com.), whalebone. Simmonds. --
Whale fishery, the fishing for, or occupation of taking, whales. --
Whale louse (Zool.), any one of several species of degraded amphipod crustaceans belonging to the genus Cyamus, especially Cyamus ceti. They are parasitic on various cetaceans. --
Whale's bone, ivory. [ Obs. ] --
Whale shark. (Zool.) (a) The basking, or liver, shark. (b) A very large harmless shark (Rhinodon typicus) native of the Indian Ocean. It sometimes becomes sixty feet long. --
Whale shot, the name formerly given to spermaceti. --
Whale's tongue (Zool.), a balanoglossus. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Naut.) A form of vessel, often with steam power, having sharp ends and a very convex upper deck, much used on the Great Lakes, esp. for carrying grain. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. (Naut.) A long, narrow boat, sharp at both ends, used by whalemen. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A firm, elastic substance resembling horn, taken from the upper jaw of the right whale; baleen. It is used as a stiffening in stays, fans, screens, and for various other purposes. See Baleen. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Whalebone is chiefly obtained from the bowhead, or Greenland, whale, the Biscay whale, and the Antarctic, or southern, whale. It is prepared for manufacture by being softened by boiling, and dyed black. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Whalemen A man employed in the whale fishery. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A vessel or person employed in the whale fishery. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who whales, or beats; a big, strong fellow; hence, anything of great or unusual size. [ Colloq. U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]