offal

[ aw-fuhl, of-uhl ]

noun

1. the edible organs, or organ parts, of a butchered animal; organ meat: Compare muscle meat ( def ).

   Our top three sellers in offal are beef kidney, liver, and tongue.

2. the parts of a butchered animal that are considered inedible by human beings; discarded viscera.
3. refuse; rubbish; garbage:

   Before the agent comes to appraise the house, let’s get someone to haul away all this offal in the backyard.

offal

/ ˈɒfəl /

noun

1. the edible internal parts of an animal, such as the heart, liver, and tongue
2. dead or decomposing organic matter
3. refuse; rubbish

Word History and Origins

Origin of offal¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English offal, offail, orfal “waste material, entrails,” equivalent to of off + fal fall; compare Dutch afval “waste”

Word History and Origins

Origin of offal¹

C14: from off + fall , referring to parts fallen or cut off; compare German Abfall rubbish

Example Sentences

After the turn of the millennium, a new generation of diners rediscovered offal as high-end restaurants and chefs offered "nose to tail" dining.

From Salon

But more recent history suggests something different: Foods such as sushi, offal and even lobster became desirable not despite but because of their novelty and difference.

From Salon

Digging deeper into that old ugly offal and waste-filled bucket of racism, white supremacy, hatred against Black women, and other vile things and smearing it on themselves as they attack Harris, the Democratic Party, and by extension its voters, and specifically Black and brown people?

From Salon

So whether he’s buying offal from the butcher, making stews from the 1800s or falling in love over a plate of rabbit, he says it’s important to him that the people he shares a meal with are willing to be curious.

From New York Times

The beef spicy noodle with pork blood and the rice soup with pork intestine, stomach, tongue and pork blood are big draws here, but I’m not the biggest fan of offal.

From Seattle Times