minke whale

noun min·ke whale \ˈmiŋ-kə-\

Definition of MINKE WHALE

: a small grayish baleen whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) with a whitish underside —called also minke

part translation of Norwegian minkehval, from minke- (perhaps from Meincke, a crewman of Svend Foyn †1894 Norwegian whaler) + hval whale

First Known Use: 1939

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