Car"ri*on (?), n. [OE. caroyne, OF. caroigne, F. charogne, LL. caronia, fr. L. caro flesh Cf. Crone, Crony.]

1.

The dead and putrefying body or flesh of an animal; flesh so corrupted as to be unfit for food.

They did eat the dead carrions. Spenser.

2.

A contemptible or worthless person; -- a term of reproach.

[Obs.] "Old feeble carrions."

Shak.

 

© Webster 1913.


Car"ri*on, a.

Of or pertaining to dead and putrefying carcasses; feeding on carrion.

A prey for carrion kites. Shak.

Carrion beetle Zool., any beetle that feeds habitually on dead animals; -- also called sexton beetle and burying beetle. There are many kinds, belonging mostly to the family Silphidae. -- Carrion buzzard Zool., a South American bird of several species and genera (as Ibycter, Milvago, and Polyborus), which act as scavengers. See Caracara. -- Carrion crow, the common European crow (Corvus corone) which feeds on carrion, insects, fruits, and seeds.

 

© Webster 1913.

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