Carrion \Car"ri*on\, n. [OE. caroyne, OF. caroigne, F. charogne, LL. caronia, fr. L. caro flesh Cf. Crone, Crony.]

1. The dead and putrefying body or flesh of an animal; flesh so corrupted as to be unfit for food.

They did eat the dead carrions. --Spenser.

2. A contemptible or worthless person; -- a term of reproach. [Obs.]

``Old feeble carrions.'' --Shak.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Carrion \Car"ri*on\, a. Of or pertaining to dead and putrefying carcasses; feeding on carrion.

A prey for carrion kites. --Shak.

Carrion beetle (Zo["o]l.), any beetle that feeds habitually on dead animals; -- also called sexton beetle and burying beetle. There are many kinds, belonging mostly to the family Silphid[ae].

Carrion buzzard (Zo["o]l.), a South American bird of several species and genera (as Ibycter, Milvago, and Polyborus), which act as scavengers. See Caracara.

Carrion crow, the common European crow (Corvus corone) which feeds on carrion, insects, fruits, and seeds.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)