# carcass

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈkɑɹkəs/ · frequency rank #22,028

## Definitions
1. The body of a dead animal, especially a vertebrate or other animal having flesh.
2. The body of a slaughtered animal, stripped of unwanted viscera, etc.
3. The body of a dead human, a corpse.
4. The body of a live person or animal.
5. The framework of a structure, such as a cabinet, especially one not normally seen.
6. An early incendiary ship-to-ship projectile consisting of an iron shell filled with saltpetre, sulphur, resin, turpentine, antimony and tallow with vents for flame.

## Etymology
Dated from the late 13th Century C.E.; from Anglo-Norman carcois, possibly related to Old French charcois. Cognate with French carcasse. But cf. also Avestan 𐬐𐬀𐬵𐬭𐬐𐬁𐬯𐬀 (kahrkās, “vulture”), and Middle Persian [Book Pahlavi needed] (klkʾs /⁠kargās⁠/, “vulture”), whence Persian کرکس (karkas, “vulture”).

## Easily confused with
- **crass** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/carcass-vs-crass)
- **caress** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/carcass-vs-caress)
- **Caucasus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/carcass-vs-caucasus)
- **Caracas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/caracas-vs-carcass)
- **canvass** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canvass-vs-carcass)

## Common misspellings (9)
`acrcass`, `cacrass`, `caracss`, `carcas`, `carccass`, `carcsas`, `carrcass`, `ccarcass`, `cracass`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/carcass