| Carrion | 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. [ 1913 Webster ] They did eat the dead carrions. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. A contemptible or worthless person; -- a term of reproach. [ Obs. ] “Old feeble carrions.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Carrion | a. Of or pertaining to dead and putrefying carcasses; feeding on carrion. [ 1913 Webster ] A prey for carrion kites. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
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 Silphidæ. --
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
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