fluking
n.— «The whale had a slightly smaller companion, and while both creatures obliged by spouting repeatedly and showing off their smooth grey-blue backs (in spite of their size, blue whales are surprisingly slim and tapered), the acrobatics were definitely over. However, each was more than happy to show off its tail as it dove deep into the water. In whale speak, this is known as “fluking.”» —“Whales visit L.B. coast” by A.K. Whitney Press-Telegram (Long Beach, California) July 23, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
One participant in our online discussion about overshadowing quoted National Geographicphotographer Joel Sartore on the topic. “Sometimes,” Sartore has observed, “you just have to pet the whale.” In other words, don’t...
After a whale dies, it may float up to the ocean’s surface to be scavenged by seabirds and sharks. Eventually, though, the carcass starts slowly sinking, and once the body reaches the ocean floor, it’s known as a whale fall. This is part...