right whale

Right whale — (Zo[ o]l.) (a) The bowhead, Arctic, or Greenland whale ({Bal[ae]na mysticetus}), from whose mouth the best whalebone is obtained. (b) Any other whale that produces valuable whalebone, as the Atlantic, or Biscay, right whale ({Bal[ae]na… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

right whale — right′ whale n. mam any of several large whalebone whales of the genus Balaena, of circumpolar seas • Etymology: 1715–25; allusion unclear …   From formal English to slang

right whale — ☆ right whale n. [reason for name uncert.] any of a family (Balaenidae) of large headed baleen whales lacking a dorsal fin and longitudinal wrinkles on the throat and chest …   English World dictionary

Right whale — For other uses, see Right whale (disambiguation). Right whales[1] A female North Atlantic Right Whale with her calf in the ocean …   Wikipedia

right whale — any of several large whalebone whales of the genus Balaena, of circumpolar seas: the species B. glacialis is greatly reduced in numbers. [1715 25; allegedly so called because it was the right whale to hunt, alluding to its relative buoyancy when… …   Universalium

right whale — noun large Arctic whalebone whale; allegedly the right whale to hunt because of its valuable whalebone and oil • Hypernyms: ↑baleen whale, ↑whalebone whale • Member Holonyms: ↑Balaenidae, ↑family Balaenidae * * * noun : a large whalebone whale of …   Useful english dictionary

right whale — grenlandinis banginis statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Balaena mysticetus angl. Arctic right whale; Arctic whale; bowhead; bow headed whale; common right whale; common whale; great polar whale;… …   Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

right whale — paprastasis tikrasis banginis statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Eubalaena glacialis angl. Atlantic right whale; Biscayan whale; black right whale; common whale; right whale vok. Biskayerwal; Nordkapez… …   Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

right whale — noun The baleen whales belonging to the family Balaenidae, in the genera Eubalaena (three species) and Balaena (one species, the bowhead whale, also called the Greenland right whale) …   Wiktionary

right whale — noun a baleen whale with a large head and a deeply curved jaw, of Arctic and temperate waters. [Balaena glacialis and other species.] Origin C18: so named because it was regarded as the ‘right’ whale to hunt …   English new terms dictionary

right whale — /ˈraɪt weɪl/ (say ruyt wayl) noun any of various large toothless whales, family Balaenidae, including those hunted commercially. {considered by whalers to be the right whale to hunt because they float when dead and are easier to retrieve after… …   Australian English dictionary