gizzard

American  

[giz-erd] / ˈgɪz ərd /

noun

Zoology.

1. 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.

2. Also called gastric mill.  a similar structure in the foregut of arthropods and several other invertebrates, often lined with chitin and small teeth.

3. the innards or viscera collectively, especially the intestine and stomach.

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gizzard British  

/ ˈɡɪzəd /

noun

1. 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

2. a similar structure in many invertebrates

3. informal  the stomach and entrails generally

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gizzard Scientific  

/ gĭz′ərd /

1. A muscular pouch behind the stomach in birds. It has a thick lining and often contains swallowed sand or grit, which helps in the mechanical breakdown of food.

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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

Example Sentences

Many species of birds purposefully consume small stones and grit, which collect in their gizzards – the second part of their stomachs – and help the birds digest their food by pulverizing it.

From Scientific American

Before anything enters a bird's gizzard, an organ for grinding up food, the proventriculus secretes digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid to break down meals.

From Salon

The wagyu cuts and bluefin tuna have been big hits, but the Japanese crowd goes for the beef tongue, chicken gizzards and chicken hearts.

From Seattle Times

In Googling, I see that’s called the gizzard, and it is acidic.

From Seattle Times

He hired caterers to cook beef, pork, gizzards and Argentina’s famed “choripan” sandwiches, made with chorizo.

From New York Times