carrion

[kar-ee-uh n]

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noun

dead and putrefying flesh.

rottenness; anything vile.

adjective

feeding on carrion.

Origin of carrion

1175–1225; Middle English caroyne, careyn, carion < Anglo-French careine, Old French charo(i)gne < Vulgar Latin *caronia, equivalent to Latin carun- (see caruncle) + -ia -y³

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for carrion

body, remains, corpse

Examples from the Web for carrion

Contemporary Examples of carrion

Carrion resigned as Bronx borough president to join the Obama administration in Washington.
The NYC Mayor’s Race is Tomorrow, Here’s What to Look Out For
Ben Jacobs
November 4, 2013

Historical Examples of carrion

Already the carrion birds had gathered in incredible numbers.
The Leopard Woman
Stewart Edward White
There was the scent of carrion in the air now; I saw it in his eyes.
The Underdog
F. Hopkinson Smith
But you are learning, cur; you are learning by the pain of your fat carcase; is it not so, carrion?
Bardelys the Magnificent
Rafael Sabatini
"Unshackle me this carrion, and heave it overboard," was the harsh order.
The Sea-Hawk
Raphael Sabatini
Offal and carrion were strewn all about the place; it swarmed with flies.
When the West Was Young
Frederick R. Bechdolt

British Dictionary definitions for carrion

carrion

noun

dead and rotting flesh

(modifier) eating carrioncarrion beetles

something rotten or repulsive

Word Origin for carrion

C13: from Anglo-French caroine, ultimately from Latin carō flesh

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for carrion

early 13c., carione, from Anglo-French carogne (Old North French caroigne; Old French charogne, 12c., "carrion, corpse," Modern French charogne), from Vulgar Latin *caronia "carcass" (source of Italian carogna, Spanish carroña "carrion"), from Latin caro "meat" (see carnage).