Definition of the word carrion

The word "carrion" originated from the Old French word "carron," meaning "dead flesh" or "corpse." It comes from the Latin word "carrōnēs," which was derived from "carrus," meaning "cart" or "wagon." The reason for the connection between corpses and wagons stems from medieval times, when dead animals and humans were dumped into open carts to be transported outside city limits for disposal, as a means of preventing the spread of disease and decaying odors inside the urban areas. This resulted in the popular association between carcasses and wagons, as the word "carrion" came to signify rotting flesh, particularly that of animal carcasses in later English usage. In Middle English, the term "carrion" expanded to encompass both the rotting flesh of dead animals and corpses, while keeping its primary meaning of "dead flesh." Over time, "carrion" has retained its association with decay and putrefaction, and is now primarily used in reference to the decaying bodies of dead animals, especially when scavenged by birds of prey. In conclusion, the word "carrion" has evolved from its Latin and Old French origins to mean "dead flesh" or "corpse," with roots in the practice of removing corpses from urban areas and depositing them in wagons. Its continued use today primarily associates it with the corpses of dead animals, especially those scavenged by birds.