carcass

Or car·case

[kahr-kuhs]

noun

1. the dead body of an animal.

2. Slang.,  the body of a human being, whether living or dead.

3. the body of a slaughtered animal after removal of the offal.

4. anything from which life and power are gone.

   The mining town, now a mere carcass, is a reminder of a past era.

5. an unfinished framework or skeleton, as of a house or ship.

6. the body of a furniture piece designed for storage, as a chest of drawers or wardrobe, without the drawers, doors, hardware, etc.

7. the inner body of a pneumatic tire, resisting by its tensile strength the pressure of the air within the tire, and protected by the tread and other parts.

verb (used with object)

1. to erect the framework for (a building, ship, etc.).

carcass

/ ˈkɑːkəs /

noun

1. the dead body of an animal, esp one that has been slaughtered for food, with the head, limbs, and entrails removed

2. informal,  a person's body

3. the skeleton or framework of a structure

4. the remains of anything when its life or vitality is gone; shell

Other Word Forms

• carcassless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of carcass¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; from Middle French carcasse, from Italian carcassa; replacing Middle English carkeis, carkois, from Anglo-French, corresponding to Medieval Latin carcosium; ultimately origin obscure

Word History and Origins

Origin of carcass¹

C14: from Old French carcasse, of obscure origin

Synonym Study

See body.

Example Sentences

He said that he and his daughter found the carcass with the skull already clean of skin earlier that afternoon.

From Los Angeles Times

We walked through tree branches, tangled vines and sharp hanging stalactites, over roots as thick as a human leg, and carcasses of birds, mice and God knows what else in varying states of decay.

From Salon

Discovery of an animal carcass near the attack, and confirmation that bear tracks found nearby were left by a grizzly, support that conclusion.

From Los Angeles Times

“Thank you for helping me get this carcass out on the field every fifth day.”

From Los Angeles Times

In India, a decline in vultures is believed to have contributed to the deaths of half a million people because they clear up the carcasses of dead animals, helping to stop the spread of disease.

From BBC

Related Words

• frame 
• framework 
• hulk 
• skeleton 
• structure