bowhead whale

noun

bow·​head whale ˈbō-ˌhed- How to pronounce bowhead whale (audio)
variants or bowhead
: a very large baleen whale (Balaena mysticetus of the family Balaenidae) of cold waters of the northern hemisphere that is related to the right whales, may reach a length of 45 to 60 feet (13.5 to 18 meters), and has an extremely large head with an arched lower jaw

Examples of bowhead whale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Bowhead Whale The bowhead whale stands out as one of the longest-living mammals, with an impressive lifespan that can exceed 200 years. Scott Travers, Forbes, 22 Sep. 2024 Orcas have also been observed working in groups to push animals off ice floes, kill a bowhead whale and even take down a blue whale, writes National Geographic. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2024 These include such animals as the bowhead whale—with its 200-year lifespan—and the naked mole rat—which can live 30 years, while similar rodents live just a few. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 2 Aug. 2023 In the course of his career, George continued monitoring the bowhead whale population. Alena Naiden, Anchorage Daily News, 11 July 2023 See all Example Sentences for bowhead whale 

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bowhead whale was in 1869

Dictionary Entries Near bowhead whale

Cite this Entry

“Bowhead whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bowhead%20whale. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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