offal

noun

of·​fal ˈȯ-fəl How to pronounce offal (audio)
ˈä-
1
: the waste or by-product of a process: such as
a
: trimmings (such as the belly, head, and shoulders) of a hide
b
: the by-products of milling (as of wheat or barley) used especially for stock feeds
c
: the viscera and trimmings of a butchered animal removed in preparing it for market or for consumption : variety meat
2

Did you know?

In its original sense, offal refers to something that has fallen or been cast away from some process of preparation or manufacture, and it has been used to describe such things as the stalks and dust from tobacco leaves, the less valuable portions of an animal hide, the by-products of milling grain, and the viscera and trimmings of a butchered animal. The word offal, however, is not an etymological cast-off, but is an English original that arose in the late 14th century as a combination of of (the Middle English spelling of "off") and fall, aptly naming that which "falls off" or is cast aside from something else. Since the late 16th century, offal has also been used as a synonym for trash, garbage, and rubbish.

Examples of offal in a Sentence

a pile of offal from the tannery operating in the neighborhood
Recent Examples on the Web Menudo is the ultimate peasant dish, made with the once undesired offal meat of a butchered animal. Sarah Mosqueda, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024 The processor explained that their business gives leftover legs and offal to multiple people, who use the parts for everything from fertilizer to chicken feed. Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 21 Dec. 2023 These turn out to be the pickled skirt trimmed from a scallop — shellfish offal. Pete Wells, New York Times, 19 Sep. 2023 Help find out with Offal Wildlife Watching Project, which placed cameras near offal piles to see which species rely on them for nutrients. Discover Magazine, 29 Nov. 2023 Giblets are edible organs, or offal, and what many consider trash. Matthew Every, Field & Stream, 22 Nov. 2023 Moreover, defying the stereotype of great chefs who expect diners to eat what they’re given, the Troisgros family is very liberal with substitutions and grants wide latitude to diners’ needs and requests, whether involving food allergies, aversions (as to lamb or offal), or mere preferences. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2023 Herbs in the crisp fritter balance the funk of the offal. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023 Compared to roots, leaves and many other plant parts, meat (especially offal such as liver, heart or tongue) has a fairly high nutrient density with many proteins and, above all, fats. Katharina Menne, Scientific American, 25 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'offal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from of off + fall

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of offal was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Offal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/offal. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

offal

noun
of·​fal ˈȯ-fəl How to pronounce offal (audio)
ˈäf-əl
: the waste or by-product of a process
especially : the inside organs of and parts trimmed from an animal killed and prepared for food
fish offal

More from Merriam-Webster on offal

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