carcass

or car·case

[ kahr-kuhs ]

noun

1. the dead body of an animal.
2. Slang. the body of a human being, whether living or dead.
3. the body of a slaughtered animal after removal of the offal.
4. anything from which life and power are gone:

   The mining town, now a mere carcass, is a reminder of a past era.

5. an unfinished framework or skeleton, as of a house or ship.
6. the body of a furniture piece designed for storage, as a chest of drawers or wardrobe, without the drawers, doors, hardware, etc.
7. the inner body of a pneumatic tire, resisting by its tensile strength the pressure of the air within the tire, and protected by the tread and other parts.

verb (used with object)

1. to erect the framework for (a building, ship, etc.).

carcass

/ ˈkɑːkəs /

noun

1. the dead body of an animal, esp one that has been slaughtered for food, with the head, limbs, and entrails removed
2. informal.
   a person's body
3. the skeleton or framework of a structure
4. the remains of anything when its life or vitality is gone; shell

Other Words From

• carcass·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of carcass¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; from Middle French carcasse, from Italian carcassa; replacing Middle English carkeis, carkois, from Anglo-French, corresponding to Medieval Latin carcosium; ultimately origin obscure

Word History and Origins

Origin of carcass¹

C14: from Old French carcasse, of obscure origin

Synonym Study

See body.

Example Sentences

And we can lay all this suffering at the feet of the pitiful carcass of what used to be the Republican party.

From Salon

There was more, lots more, but the standout may have been Samberg returning to perform “Baby Bear Carcass,” in tune with the “Hamilton” opening number, a reference to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s bizarre Central Park story.

From Los Angeles Times

“Virus will survive on the carcass surface — not for long at 100 degrees — but temperature and acidification pretty rapidly neutralize it in the carcass, at least influenza viruses.”

From Los Angeles Times

Its carcass has since been ferried in a canoe to the palace of one of the Emir of Yauri's high-ranking administrators, where it has been butchered and its meat given to those in local community.

From BBC

In the carcass of one burnt-out home, a board game rests on top of a coffee table, next to a melted television remote control.

From BBC

Related Words

• frame
• framework
• hulk
• skeleton
• structure