Ven"i*son [OE. veneison, veneson, venison, OF. veneison, F. venaison, L. venatio hunting, the chase, game, fr. venari, p. p. venatus, to hunt; perhaps akin to OHG. weidinn, weidenen, to pasture, to hunt, G. weide pasturage. Cf. Gain to acquire, Venation.]
1.
Beasts of the chase.
[Obs.]
Fabyan.
2.
Formerly, the flesh of any of the edible beasts of the chase, also of game birds; now, the flesh of animals of the deer kind exclusively.
© Webster 1913.