gizzard

noun

giz·​zard ˈgi-zərd 

1

a

: the muscular enlargement of the digestive tract of birds that has usually thick muscular walls and a tough horny lining for grinding the food and when the crop is present follows it and the proventriculus

b

: a thickened part of the digestive tract in some animals (such as an insect or an earthworm) that is similar in function to the crop of a bird

2

: innards

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

The bird recipe incorporates finely ground chicken, bone, heart, liver and gizzard. —Dallas News, 22 Dec. 2022

Once your bird is sufficiently thawed, reach into the cavities (there are two!) and pull out the neck and giblets (these usually include the liver, heart and gizzard). —Kate Merker, Good Housekeeping, 11 Oct. 2022

The other evidence to support that suggestion is based on the fact that, besides birds, crocodylians also have both a gizzard and an ‘acid’ stomach. —Jeanne Timmons, Ars Technica, 6 June 2022

At least 250 gizzard shad were found dead, Maryland Department of the Environment spokesman Jay Apperson said in an email. —Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 24 Mar. 2022

In owls, this second chamber, called the gizzard, collects bone, teeth and fur, which is later expelled. —Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Feb. 2022

Unlike most yakitori-inclusive spots in the Bay Area, Tori Man offers you plenty of off cuts: knee cap, cartilage, heart, gizzard, and skin bunched up on the skewer like a ribbon. —Soleil Ho, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Aug. 2021

Hearts can be seared quickly, like little bite-sized steaks or minced fine along with the liver and gizzard for a batch of dirty rice. —Outdoor Life, 8 Mar. 2021

Captain Mike Walker knows the tricks, slow-trolling huge gizzard shad and suckers on heavy tackle over the channel edges. —Frank Sargeant, al, 22 Jan. 2021

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Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English giser gizzard, liver, from Anglo-French gesir, giser, from Latin gigeria (plural) giblets

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

gizzard

noun

giz·​zard ˈgiz-ərd 

: a large muscular part of the digestive tube (as of a bird or insect) which has a horny lining and in which food is churned and ground into small pieces

Medical Definition

gizzard

noun

giz·​zard ˈgiz-ərd 

: the muscular enlargement of the digestive tract of birds that has usually thick muscular walls and a tough horny lining for churning and grinding the food