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
“What has a head like a cat, feet like a cat, a tail like a cat, but isn’t a cat?” Answer: a kitten! A 1948 children’s joke book has lots of these to share with kids. Plus: an easy explanation for the difference between...
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...