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Glite Dictionary
piked whale

piked whale

7.9
A small whale that lives near coasts, like the minke whale
  • noun
  • /paɪkt weɪl/
  • Archaic
translation icon : ballena minke
  • The piked whale is frequently observed in the coastal waters during the summer migration.

Examples

  • Scientists have been studying the feeding habits of the piked whale along the Pacific coast.

  • Many piked whales migrate to warmer waters in winter.

  • Unlike larger whales, the piked whale is known for being agile and elusive.

  • The piked whale is often seen near the coastline.

  • Scientists have been studying the feeding habits of the piked whale along the Pacific coast.

  • The piked whale is frequently observed in the coastal waters during the summer migration.

  • Many piked whales migrate to warmer waters in winter.

Synonyms

minke whale
vspiked whale
  • Specialized
1 6.2

A small whale with a dark, smooth body and a small fin on its back

is an alternative common name used for that same small finback whale
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
vspiked whale
  • Specialized
9.9

A small whale that swims near coasts and eats small sea animals using filter plates

is the casual common-name alternative for that identical species
lesser rorqual
vspiked whale
  • Specialized
9.9

A small whale like a minke whale that lives near coasts

is a more descriptive or technical alternative label for the same whale

Surface Forms

piked whale singular
piked whales plural

Morphology

piked + whale

The modifier 'piked' is not a common or transparently meaningful adjective for a B1 learner (dictionary entry missing), so the compound does not yield the species identity from its parts. As a lexicalized species name (minke whale) the meaning is specialized and not predictably derived from 'whale' plus an unknown modifier, making it opaque to learners.

Etymology

Piked whale may come from the whale's pointed snout or a small sharp fin that looks like a spike, so people began to call it piked. That's why the name refers to the small finback whale known today as the 'minke whale'.