What does bowhead mean?
The bowhead is a large baleen whale native to the cold waters of the Arctic and subarctic, distinguished by its enormously arched, bow-shaped skull — the feature from which it takes its name — and by the complete absence of a dorsal fin. Reaching lengths of up to eighteen meters, it feeds by filtering tiny prey through long baleen plates as it swims with its mouth open. Also called the Greenland right whale, the species was heavily hunted for centuries, but it survives today under international protection. The bowhead is scientifically remarkable above all for its longevity: individuals are believed to live more than two hundred years, making it one of the longest-lived animals known. Because of this extraordinary lifespan and its adaptation to life among ice, the bowhead is a frequent subject of research into aging, genetics, and Arctic ecology.
nounA large baleen whale (Balaena mysticetus) of Arctic and subarctic waters, characterized by an arched, bow-shaped skull and the absence of a dorsal fin. It is also known as the Greenland right whale.
- A large Arctic baleen whale (Balaena mysticetus) with a bow-shaped head, no dorsal fin, and the longest lifespan of any known mammal.
"The bowhead surfaced slowly through the broken sea ice, its massive white jaw breaking the silence of the Arctic."
"Commercial whalers pursued the bowhead relentlessly through the nineteenth century, driving populations near collapse."
"Scientists estimate that certain bowheads have lived more than two centuries, based on stone harpoon tips recovered from living animals."
Regular plural; commonly used when referring to multiple individuals of the species, e.g., in discussions of populations.
"Each summer, hundreds of bowheads gather in the shallow bays of the Canadian Arctic to feed."
The bowhead can live for over 200 years, making it possibly the longest-lived mammal on Earth — some whales alive today were born before the American Civil War.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bowhead
The word "bowhead" arose in English in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century as a straightforward descriptive compound of "bow," referring to something bent or arched (from Old English "bogan," to bend), and "head." Whalers coined the name for the whale's distinctive high, curved skull, which resembles an archer's bow in profile. The element "bow" appears in many other English compounds such as "elbow," "rainbow," and "bowstring."
Usage notes
"Bowhead" is almost always encountered as part of the phrase "bowhead whale" in general usage; it is a technical and scientific term rather than everyday vocabulary.
Don't confuse with
The bowhead is closely related to right whales but is classified in its own genus, Balaena, whereas 'right whale' refers to species of the genus Eubalaena.