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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
Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
In the thick atmosphere, stray dogs fight with seabirds for scraps of offal and urinate against the barrels of blood and salt water where waiting fish float.
—Christopher Cameron, Robb Report, 14 Dec. 2024
Of all the offal, this one's perhaps the easiest to stomach (apologies for the awful pun).
—Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean, 16 May 2024
Their red heads are featherless, which prevents offal from fouling head feathers.
—Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 22 Sep. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Offal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/offal. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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offal
noun
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