carrion

American  

[kar-ee-uhn] / ˈkær i ən /

noun

1. dead and putrefying flesh.

2. rottenness; anything vile.

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adjective

1. feeding on carrion.

carrion British  

/ ˈkærɪən /

noun

1. dead and rotting flesh

2. (modifier) eating carrion

   carrion beetles

3. something rotten or repulsive

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Etymology

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- ( caruncle ) + -ia -y ³

Example Sentences

Every time Torak went to look, there was nothing but a stink of carrion and an uneasy feeling of being watched.

From Literature

Condors vanished from the state’s North Coast after the arrival of European settlers, who killed other animals with lead bullets and strychnine — poisoning the raptors that feed on carrion.

From Los Angeles Times

Published in the journal Journal of Human Evolution, the research takes a sweeping look at carrion consumption from the earliest hominins to modern humans.

From Science Daily

After weeks of patience, last year's winner, Shane Gross, captured peppered moray eels scavenging for carrion at low tide.

From BBC

Like the bird of prey seeking carrion, a foreign correspondent is characterized as a misery merchant or conflict cowboy, making a living from death and disaster.

From Los Angeles Times