carrion
UK[ˈkæriən]US[ˈkæriən]
n
The decaying flesh of dead animals.
Etymology
The word 'carrion' entered English in the early 13th century from the Anglo-Norman and Old French word 'caroigne', meaning 'dead body' or 'carcass'. This French term itself evolved from the Vulgar Latin 'caronia', a derivative of the Latin 'caro' (genitive 'carnis'), which meant 'flesh'. The semantic journey is direct, from the general Latin word for 'flesh' to a specialized term in French and English referring specifically to the decaying flesh of animals, highlighting its role as food for scavengers.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword from Anglo-Norman and Old French. It does not contain separable, productive morphemes in modern English.
Examples
Vultures circled overhead, searching for carrion.
The smell of carrion attracted a pack of wild dogs to the clearing.
Some beetles are specialized to feed only on carrion.