The internal organs of an animal, especially the intestines; used both literally and metaphorically to mean inner depths or essential parts.
From Old French 'entrailles' and Latin 'intranea' (internal things), related to 'intra' (within). Has been used since medieval times for both organs and figurative inner contents.
Before modern medicine, reading animal entrails for divination (called haruspicy) was considered serious science by Romans—Livy describes senators making military decisions based on sheep intestines!
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