venison

Where does the word "venison" come from? It comes from Latin venatio, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Venison’s story begins in Latin: venatio meant “hunting; game.” From 'venari', to hunt, also the source of 'venatic' and possibly 'venom'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as veneison. Covered the meat of any hunted animal, including boar and hare. It reached English by 1300s as venison. Narrowed to deer meat as hunting rights in royal forests became tied to deer. Today, venison means meat from a deer.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient venatio "hunting; game", from 'venari', to hunt, also the source of 'venatic' and possibly 'venom'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval veneison "meat of game animals", covered the meat of any hunted animal, including boar and hare.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s venison "deer meat", narrowed to deer meat as hunting rights in royal forests became tied to deer.