flesh en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /flɛʃ/
- (US) audio
Etymology
From Middle English flesh, flesch, flæsch, from Old English flǣsċ, from Proto-West Germanic *flaiski, from Proto-Germanic *flaiski, from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₁ḱ- (“to tear, peel off”). Cognates Cognate with Yola vleash, vlesh (“flesh”), North Frisian flaasch, flaosk, Fleesk, fleäsk, floask, flääsk, flååsch (“flesh, meat”), Saterland Frisian Flaask (“flesh, meat”), West Frisian fleis (“flesh, meat”), Cimbrian blòas, vlaisch, vlòas (“flesh, meat”), Dutch vlees, vleesch (“flesh, meat”), German Fleisch (“flesh, meat”), German Low German and Luxembourgish Fleesch (“flesh, meat”), Vilamovian fłaś (“meat; muscle”), Yiddish פֿלייש (fleysh, “flesh, meat”), Danish flæsk (“pork; bacon”), Faroese, Icelandic, and Norwegian Nynorsk flesk (“pork; bacon”), Swedish fläsk (“pork”).
Meanings
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(uncountable, usually) The soft tissue of the body, especially muscle and fat.
The flesh of chicken, fowl, and turkey has much shorter fibre than that of ruminating animals, and is not intermingled with fat,—the fat always being found in layers directly under the skin, and surrounding the intestines.
1918, Fannie Farmer, Boston Cooking-School Cook Book, Chapter XVII: Poultry and Game
- (uncountable, usually) The skin of a human or animal.
- (broadly, uncountable, usually) Bare arms, bare legs, bare torso.
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(uncountable, usually) Animal tissue regarded as food; meat (but sometimes excluding fish).
Chicken is already the most popular meat in the US, and is projected to be the planet’s favourite flesh by 2020.
2018 May 8, Raj Patel, Jason W Moore, “How the chicken nugget became the true symbol of our era”, in The Guardian:The fleſh that twycheth any vnclene thinge ſhall not be eaten. but burnt with fire: and all that be clene in their fleſh, maye eate fleſh. Yf any ſoule eate of the fleſh of the peaceofferynges, that pertayne vnto the Lorde and hys vnclenneſſe yet apon him, the ſame ſoule ſhall periſſhe from amonge his peoole.^([sic]) Moreouer yf a ſoule twych any vnclene thinge, whether it be the vnclenneſſe of man or of any vnclene beeſt or any abhominacion that is vnclene: ãd thẽ eate of the fleſh of the peaceoffrynges whiche pertayne vnto the Lord, that ſoule ſhall periſſh from his people.
1530 January 27 (Gregorian calendar), W[illiam] T[yndale], transl., [The Pentateuch] (Tyndale Bible), Malborow [Marburg], Hesse: […] Hans Luft [actually Antwerp: Johan Hoochstraten], →OCLC, Leuiticus vij:[19–21], folio XI, verso:Thenne syr launcelot sayd / fader what shalle I do / Now sayd the good man / I requyre yow take this hayre that was this holy mans and putte it nexte thy skynne / and it shalle preuaylle the gretely / syr and I wille doo hit sayd sir launcelot / Also I charge you that ye ete no flesshe as longe as ye be in the quest of the sancgreal / nor ye shalle drynke noo wyne / and that ye here masse dayly and ye may doo hit
1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “ij”, in Le Morte Darthur, book XV:
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(uncountable, usually) The human body as a physical entity.
In my political/cultural mythology Carl remained this larger-than-life figure […] But knowing Carl, the fantasy made flesh, was a different experience. The keen mind that wrote "A Gay Manifesto" was even more perceptive and challenging in real life.
1986 February 15, Michael Bronski, “Carl Wittman: An Activist's Life”, in Gay Community News, volume 13, number 31, page 7:And the preaſt ſhall put on his lynen albe and his lynen breches apon his fleſh, and take awaye the aſſhes whiche the fire of the burntſacrifice in the altare hath made, and put them beſyde the alter, […]
1530 January 27 (Gregorian calendar), W[illiam] T[yndale], transl., [The Pentateuch] (Tyndale Bible), Malborow [Marburg], Hesse: […] Hans Luft [actually Antwerp: Johan Hoochstraten], →OCLC, Leuiticus vj:[10], folio IX, recto:
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(uncountable, usually) The mortal body of a human being, contrasted with the spirit or soul.
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that yee cannot doe the things that yee would.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Galatians 5:17:For all flesh is as grasse, and all the glory of man as the flowre of grasse: the grasse withereth, and the flowre thereof falleth away.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Peter 1:24:1929 January, Bassett Morgan (Grace Jones), Bimini, first published in Weird Tales, reprinted 1949, in Avon Fantasy Reader, Issue 10, But death had no gift for me, no power to free me from flesh.
- (uncountable, usually) The evil and corrupting principle working in man.
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(uncountable, usually) The soft, often edible, parts of fruits or vegetables.
The flesh of black walnuts was a protein-packed winter food carefully hoarded in tall, stilted buildings.
2003, Diana Beresford-Kroeger, Arboretum America: A Philosophy of the Forest, page 81:
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(obsolete, uncountable, usually) Tenderness of feeling; gentleness.
There is no flesh in man's obdurate heart.
1782–1785, William Cowper, “(please specify the page)”, in The Task, a Poem, […], London: […] J[oseph] Johnson; […], →OCLC:
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(obsolete, uncountable, usually) Kindred; stock; race.
He is our brother and our flesh.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 37:27:
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(uncountable, usually) A yellowish pink color; the color of some Caucasian human skin.
She opened [...] a third that was the peachy white that crayon companies used to call “flesh”.
2018, Tayari Jones, An American Marriage, Oneworld Publications, page 243:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| fleshes | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Translations (291)
wa tchå (animal tissue as food) · ar لَحْمٌ (animal tissue as food) · el δέρμα (skin) · la carō ((religion) mortal body) · cmn 肉色 (colour) · be це́ла (body tissue) · bg телесен (colour) · da kød (animal tissue as food) · ru телесный (colour) · sv kött (animal tissue as food) · sm ʻaʻano (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · ru мясо (body tissue) · ja 肉 (animal tissue as food) · la carō ((religion) evil, sin, corruption) · mi kākano (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · cs tělo (human body entity) · da krop (human body entity) · fr chair (body tissue) · ru ко́жа (skin) · bg тяло (human body entity) · hu test ((religion) mortal body) · te కండ (body tissue) · es carne (body tissue) · uz et (body tissue) · or ମାଂସ (body tissue) · lv mīkstums (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · mi tōrōpuku (body tissue) · fi liha (human body entity) · sa क्रव्य (body tissue) · bg месо (animal tissue as food) · el κρέας (animal tissue as food) · sw ngozi (skin) · ja ペールオレンジ (colour) · zku itya (body tissue) · mk месо (body tissue) · ru плоть (animal tissue as food) · hy միս (animal tissue as food) · tr et (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · sv kött (body tissue) · uk тілесний (colour) · mi uaua (body tissue) · da kød (body tissue) · sk telo (human body entity) · nl vel (skin) · sw ngozi (human body entity) · arz لحم (body tissue) · ur گوشت (animal tissue as food) · mnc ᠶᠠᠯᡳ (body tissue) · es carne (colour) · fi liha (body tissue) · gl carne ((religion) evil, sin, corruption) · cy cnawd (body tissue) · vo pulp (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · no hudfarge (colour) · et liha (animal tissue as food) · sw kinofu (animal tissue as food) · uk ті́ло (human body entity) · uk ті́ло (body tissue) · io korpo (human body entity) · ko 살색 (colour) · tr et (animal tissue as food) · nds Fleesch (animal tissue as food) · rif aksum (body tissue) · ml മാംസം (animal tissue as food) · hy մարմին (human body entity) · bo ཤ་ (body tissue) · ru плоть (body tissue) · la carō (body tissue) · hu hús (body tissue) · da hud (skin) · pt carne (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · te గుజ్జు (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · yue 肉色 (colour) · hi देह ((religion) mortal body) · da kød (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · ur لحم (body tissue) · ro carne (body tissue) · ja 肌色 (colour) · hi गोश्त (animal tissue as food) · ru мягкая ткань (body tissue) · gl carne ((religion) mortal body) · sq mish (body tissue) · ill sapu' (body tissue) · gd craiceann (human body entity) · fi liha ((religion) evil, sin, corruption) · nan-hbl 肉色 (colour) · ug ئەت (animal tissue as food) · ltg mīsa (body tissue) · ur کھال (skin) · ja 身 (body tissue) · da kødfarve (colour) · ur پوست (skin) · gl polpa (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · hi लहम (animal tissue as food) · pt pele (skin) · fi liha (animal tissue as food) · grc κρέας (animal tissue as food) · hu hús (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · ti ስጋ (animal tissue as food) · hi मांस (body tissue) · uga 𐎌𐎛𐎗 (body tissue) · bcl unod (body tissue) · gd craiceann (skin) · pdt Fleesch (animal tissue as food) · es pellejo (skin) · wa tchå (body tissue) · gd feòil (body tissue) · liv lejā (body tissue) · gl carne (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · ca carn (animal tissue as food) · fr chair ((religion) mortal body) · nl vruchtvlees (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · hi क्रव्य (body tissue) · gl pel (skin) · gl carne (body tissue) · uk плоть (body tissue) · mww nqaij (body tissue) · tpi mit (body tissue) · it carne (body tissue) · de Fleischfarbe (colour) · id daging (animal tissue as food) · pt carne (body tissue) · ga colainn (human body entity) · ko 살구색 (colour) · hak 肉色 (colour) · da frugtkød (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · gd feòil (animal tissue as food) · ur مانس (body tissue) · mi kiko (body tissue) · lo ມັງສະ (body tissue) · be це́ла (human body entity) · de Leib (human body entity) · ak ɛnam (body tissue) · hu hús (animal tissue as food) · be мяса (body tissue) · cmn 肉 (body tissue) · he בָּשָׂר (body tissue) · uz et (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · km មំសៈ (body tissue) · fi hedelmäliha (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · nl vlees (animal tissue as food) · pt bege (colour) · ru мя́коть (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · sq tul (body tissue) · srn meti (body tissue) · liv lejā (skin) · fr carnation (colour) · pms carn (body tissue) · nds Fleesch (body tissue) · ug ئەت (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · id daging (body tissue) · lo ຊີ້ນ (body tissue) · fi malto (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · udm сӥль (body tissue) · ga feoil (animal tissue as food) · ru те́ло (body tissue) · grc χρώς (skin) · ru мя́со (animal tissue as food) · ur لحم (animal tissue as food) · bg тлен ((religion) mortal body) · km សាច់ (body tissue) · got 𐌼𐌰𐌼𐌼𐍉 (body tissue) · sv fruktkött (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · is hold (body tissue) · yur tewon (body tissue) · mi kiko (animal tissue as food) · sl meso (animal tissue as food) · pl mięso (body tissue) · tpi skin (skin) · tpi mit (animal tissue as food) · ht lachè ((religion) evil, sin, corruption) · fo kjøt (body tissue) · gl pelexo (skin) · fr peau (skin) · ga feoil (body tissue) · eo karno (body tissue) · gd feòil (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · gl carne (animal tissue as food) · cs dužina (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · gl carne (human body entity) · ar لَحْم (body tissue) · rif aysum (body tissue) · nv atsįʼ (body tissue) · pl cielisty (colour) · et liha (body tissue) · uz et (animal tissue as food) · hy միս (body tissue) · ak nam (body tissue) · el σάρκα (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · ht lachè ((religion) mortal body) · fr chair (colour) · hi चमड़ी (skin) · hu bőr (skin) · lt kūnas (body tissue) · ca carn (colour) · rif aksum (animal tissue as food) · id merah daging (colour) · fr corps (human body entity) · pt corpo (human body entity) · de Fruchtfleisch (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · fr viande (animal tissue as food) · ru те́ло (human body entity) · gd feòil (human body entity) · pl ciało (human body entity) · pt carne (human body entity) · sl meso (body tissue) · ja 果肉 (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · grc σάρξ (body tissue) · lv gaļa (animal tissue as food) · es carne (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · th เนื้อ (body tissue) · ug ئەت (body tissue) · fi iho (skin) · bg кожа (skin) · pl miąższ (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · no kjøtt (body tissue) · el σάρκα (body tissue) · ur جلد (skin) · ga colainn ((religion) evil, sin, corruption) · nl mensenkleur (colour) · de Fleisch (human body entity) · ko 살 (body tissue) · de Fleisch (animal tissue as food) · pt carne (animal tissue as food) · la carō (human body entity) · ti ስጋ (body tissue) · ca carn (body tissue) · io karno (body tissue) · egy i-W:f-F51:Z2ss (body tissue) · hi चमड़ा (skin) · pt polpa (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · fr chair (animal tissue as food) · clt saa (body tissue) · de Fleisch (body tissue) · vo flukapulp (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · rif aysum (animal tissue as food) · zu inyama (animal tissue as food) · vot liha (body tissue) · sl meso ((religion) mortal body) · uk м'я́со (body tissue) · pdt Fleesch (body tissue) · fa گوشت (body tissue) · de Fleisch (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · vo mid (body tissue) · es carne (human body entity) · zu inyama (body tissue) · ml മാംസം (body tissue) · th เนื้อหนัง ((religion) mortal body) · es carne (animal tissue as food) · tpi mit (human body entity) · fr chair ((religion) evil, sin, corruption) · sl meso (human body entity) · sw chembechembe (body tissue) · tr deri (skin) · hi त्वचा (skin) · la carō (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · ko 고기 (body tissue) · bg месо́ (body tissue) · lv miesa (body tissue) · ja 肉 (body tissue) · ml ഇറച്ചി (animal tissue as food) · gl corpo (human body entity) · la carō (animal tissue as food) · tg гӯшт (body tissue) · lv ķermenis (human body entity) · tr et (body tissue) · hi खाल (skin) · nan-hbl 肉 (animal tissue as food) · fr pulpe (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · sl telọ̑ (human body entity) · lv ķermenis (body tissue) · io pulpo (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · nl vlees (body tissue) · cs maso (body tissue) · hi गुद्दा (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · fi liha ((religion) mortal body) · vo skin (skin) · hi गूदा (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · hi मांस (animal tissue as food) · pl ciało (body tissue) · sw ngozi (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · de Haut (skin) · ur گوشت (body tissue) · el σάρκα (human body entity) · ps غوښه (animal tissue as food) · la carō (skin) · haw ʻiʻo (body tissue) · hu gyümölcshús (edible part of fruit/vegetable) · gl carne (colour) · ja うすだいだい (colour) · mpi shu (human body entity)