gizzard
Americannoun
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Also called ventriculus. a thick-walled, muscular pouch in the lower stomach of many birds and reptiles that grinds food, often with the aid of ingested stones or grit.
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Also called gastric mill. a similar structure in the foregut of arthropods and several other invertebrates, often lined with chitin and small teeth.
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the innards or viscera collectively, especially the intestine and stomach.
noun
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the thick-walled part of a bird's stomach, in which hard food is broken up by muscular action and contact with grit and small stones
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a similar structure in many invertebrates
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informal the stomach and entrails generally
Etymology
Origin of gizzard
1325–75; Middle English giser < Old French giser, gezier ( French gésier ) < Vulgar Latin *gigerium; compare Latin gigeria, gizeria giblets, perhaps ultimately < Iranian; compare Persian jigar liver
Explanation
A gizzard is an internal organ that some kinds of animals have in their digestive tracts. Turkeys and chickens use their gizzard to grind up food, often along with small stones they swallow. Some crustaceans and fish have gizzards, and so do birds, crocodiles, and alligators. Dinosaurs had gizzards too! If you've ever cooked a Thanksgiving turkey, you might recognize the gizzard as one of the parts that are removed before roasting, but in many cuisines the gizzard is a delicious treat. In a live animal, the gizzard performs the function of teeth, grinding food to make it more digestible.
Vocabulary lists containing gizzard
Animals (Zoology) - Introductory
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Animals (Zoology) - Middle School
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Animals (Zoology) - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Meanwhile, several artists - including Massive Attack, Deerhoof and King Lizard and the Gizzard Wizard - have cut ties with Spotify in protest at the company's ties to the defence company Helsing.
From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard are a fascinating phenomenon in rock.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 8, 2025
Remlinger Farms and STG teamed up last summer for three shows with Australian psych rockers King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, which ultimately felt like a trial run for the new venue.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 11, 2024
Black bass are fair on Megabass S Cranks and Megabass 110 jerkbaits in MB Gizzard color as well as shakyheads on docks.
From Washington Times • Oct. 31, 2018
"But you said there was money in it," returned Gizzard with a trace of disappointment.
From Sube Cane by Partridge, Edward Bellamy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
