venison

n. [ 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. weidinōn, weidenen, to pasture, to hunt, G. weide pasturage. Cf. Gain to acquire, Venation. ] 1. Beasts of the chase. [ Obs. ] Fabyan. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]