venison
venison Lexical Profile
venison Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The edible meat of a deer.
"The chef prepared a hearty winter stew using locally sourced venison and root vegetables."
North American The meat of large cervid game animals similar to deer, such as elk, moose, or caribou.
"Hunters often fill their freezers with venison after a successful elk season in the Rocky Mountains."
The edible flesh of any hunted wild animal, historically including wild boar, hare, or game birds.
"In medieval banquets, the term venison was applied broadly to the meat of any beast taken in the chase."
Word Nuance & Usage
While historically referring to the meat of any hunted wild animal, modern usage strictly restricts 'venison' to the meat of deer, elk, or similar cervids.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'venesoun', from Old French 'venesoun' (meat of a hunted animal), derived from Latin 'venatio' (hunting, the chase), from 'venari' (to hunt).