entrail

noun

en·​trail
ˈen‧trəl,
-rāl
plural -s
1
archaic : an internal part of an animal body
2
entrails plural : bowels, guts, viscera
3
entrails plural : the interior or internal parts of something
hairy entrails of the sofaBerton Roueché
whole mountains had their entrails torn outWyn Roberts

Word History

Etymology

Middle English entraille, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin intralia, alteration of Latin interanea, plural of interaneum intestine, from neuter of interaneus interior (akin to Latin inter between) + -aneus (as in extraneus external)

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of entrail was in the 13th century

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Dictionary Entries Near entrail

Cite this Entry

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

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