verb (used with object), flensed, flens·ing.
- to strip the blubber or the skin from (a whale, seal, etc.).
- to strip off (blubber or skin).
verb
- (tr) to strip (a whale, seal, etc) of (its blubber or skin)
also flench, 1814, from Danish flense, perhaps from PIE root *(s)plei- “to splice, split.” Related: Flenser; flensing.