whaleback
noun
whale·back
ˈ(h)wāl-ˌbak 
: something shaped like the back of a whale: such as
a
: any of several rounded geological formations (such as a roche moutonnée)
b
: a former cargo steamship with a fully curved hull
Examples of whaleback in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Just one surviving whaleback, the S.S. Meteor, remains intact today.
—
Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Oct. 2022
There is only one intact whaleback still in existence, the SS Meteor, which is moored as a museum exhibit in Superior, Wisconsin.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 20 Oct. 2022
Cue a whirlwind whaleback ride to the colorful, fauna-ruled and steadily sinking Wild Island, where he’s instructed to rescue the captive Boris (Gaten Matarazzo) and somehow keep the island afloat.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 10 Oct. 2022
The growth of the whaleback at Shiveluch looks to be on par with those historic whalebacks and spines.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 6 Oct. 2020
Eventually, wreckage from the S.S. Clifton, began drifting ashore on the Canadian side of Lake Huron, indicating that the whaleback freighter sank.
—Brent Ashcroft, Detroit Free Press, 21 Sep. 2017
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Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Oct. 2022
There is only one intact whaleback still in existence, the SS Meteor, which is moored as a museum exhibit in Superior, Wisconsin.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 20 Oct. 2022
Cue a whirlwind whaleback ride to the colorful, fauna-ruled and steadily sinking Wild Island, where he’s instructed to rescue the captive Boris (Gaten Matarazzo) and somehow keep the island afloat.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 10 Oct. 2022
The growth of the whaleback at Shiveluch looks to be on par with those historic whalebacks and spines.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 6 Oct. 2020
Eventually, wreckage from the S.S. Clifton, began drifting ashore on the Canadian side of Lake Huron, indicating that the whaleback freighter sank.
—Brent Ashcroft, Detroit Free Press, 21 Sep. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Whaleback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whaleback. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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