gray whale

[ grey hweyl, weyl ]

noun

1. a grayish-black baleen whale, Eschrichtius robustus, of the North Pacific, growing to a length of 50 feet (15.2 meters): an endangered species.

Word History and Origins

Origin of gray whale¹

First recorded in 1830–35

Example Sentences

Conversely, Bennett points to the gray whale, which is a species of “least concern” on the red list because its populations remain numerically high in certain areas.

From Washington Post

The center said biologists have observed more gray whales in “poor body condition” during their annual migrations since 2019.

From Washington Post

Experts at the Marine Mammal Center, the world’s largest marine mammal hospital, said these are the most gray whale deaths they have seen in such a short span since 2019, when the center performed 13 whale necropsies.

From Washington Post

Duignan said center experts are studying gray whale nutrition and are looking to better understand how much of a role nutrition has played in whale deaths.

From Washington Post

An adult female gray whale was found on April 1, another adult female on April 3, and two more — a subadult male and an adult female — were found on Thursday.

From Washington Post

The California gray whale—the devil-whale is what he really is—looks a lot worse to me than a killer.

From Project Gutenberg

Rachianectes, ra-ki-an-ek′tez, n. the gray whale of the North Pacific.

From Project Gutenberg