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.

---

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

---

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.

---

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.

Example Sentences

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

Traffic congestion during the first King Gizzard concert was a challenge last year, particularly as fans attempted to leave Remlinger Farms’ gridlocked parking lot at the end of the night.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 11, 2024

If rock is dead, nobody told King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 28, 2022

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

So did a fat Dame with her little Boy and Girl, and an Arm round each, like a great plump Fowl, a Gizzard under one Wing and Liver beneath the other.

From Manners & Cvftoms of ye Englyfhe Drawn from ye Qvick by Doyle, Richard