CARCASS

carcase, carcass

(noun) the dead body of an animal especially one slaughtered and dressed for food

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

carcass (plural carcasses)

The body of a dead animal.

(meat trade) The body of a slaughtered animal, stripped of unwanted viscera, etc.

The body of a dead human, a corpse.

The framework of a structure, especially one not normally seen.

(nautical) An early incendiary ship-to-ship projectile consisting of an iron shell filled with saltpetre, sulphur, resin, turpentine, antimony and tallow with vents for flame.

Usage notes

The form carcase is closer to Middle English spellings (carcays or carkeis).

Carcase may be more common in varieties of British English than it is in US English. For instance, in Australia, some newspapers use carcase, while others use carcass. The Australian Dept of Agriculture uses carcase for the sense body of slaughtered animal.

Synonyms

• see corpse

Source: Wiktionary

Car"cass, n.; pl. Carcasses. [Written also carcase.] Etym: [F. carcasse, fr. It. carcassa, fr. L. caro flesh + capsa chest, box, case. Cf. Carnal, Case a sheath.]

1. A dead body, whether of man or beast; a corpse; now commonly the dead body of a beast. He turned to see the carcass of the lion. Judges xiv. 8. This kept thousands in the town whose carcasses went into the great pits by cartloads. De Foe.

2. The living body; -- now commonly used in contempt or ridicule. "To pamper his own carcass." South. Lovely her face; was ne'er so fair a creature. For earthly carcass had a heavenly feature. Oldham.

3. The abandoned and decaying remains of some bulky and once comely thing, as a ship; the skeleton, or the uncovered or unfinished frame, of a thing. A rotten carcass of a boat. Shak.

4. (Mil.)

Definition: A hollow case or shell, filled with combustibles, to be thrown from a mortar or howitzer, to set fire to buldings, ships, etc. A discharge of carcasses and bombshells. W. Iving.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition