The dead body of an animal, especially one prepared for food. Can also refer to the structural framework of something or any lifeless remains.
From Old French 'carcasse', possibly from Arabic 'karkasa' meaning to gnaw or devour. The word traveled through medieval trade routes as different cultures exchanged knowledge about animal processing.
Carcass illustrates how practical necessity shapes language - cultures that process animals for survival develop specific vocabulary for each stage of the transformation from living creature to food, creating precise terminology for what might seem unpleasant but essential processes.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.