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In its original sense, offal refers to something that has fallen or been cast away from some process of preparation or manufacture, and it has been used to describe such things as the stalks and dust from tobacco leaves, the less valuable portions of an animal hide, the by-products of milling grain, and the viscera and trimmings of a butchered animal. The word offal, however, is not an etymological cast-off, but is an English original that arose in the late 14th century as a combination of of (the Middle English spelling of "off") and fall, aptly naming that which "falls off" or is cast aside from something else. Since the late 16th century, offal has also been used as a synonym for trash, garbage, and rubbish.
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Examples of offal in a Sentence
Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 22 Sep. 2024
Like other offal meats, the texture softens and becomes more tender after cooking.
—Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2024
An estimated 200,000 tons a year of waste -- grease, blood, offal and other such biosolids -- from food processing plants in Arkansas was spread as fertilizer on Missouri pastures and farms, according to Missouri state figures.
—Doug Thompson, arkansasonline.com, 14 July 2024
There’s an offal of the day, priced generously to reflect the cheaper cut.
—Jo Rodgers, Vogue, 3 May 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Offal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/offal. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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offal
noun
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