1. to cut blubber or skin from a whale or seal
Usage: whaling/sealing industry term; third person singular present or plural form

Examples

• The crew flenches the whale to extract the valuable blubber.
• Historically, whalers flenches their catch in a systematic manner.
• The harpooner flenches the seal skin with practiced efficiency.
• Modern regulations restrict how flenches are performed on marine mammals.