giz·zard / ˈgizərd/ • n. a muscular, thick-walled part of a bird's stomach for grinding food, typically with grit. Also called ventriculus. ∎  a muscular stomach of some fish, insects, mollusks, and other invertebrates. ∎ inf. a person's stomach or throat.ORIGIN: late Middle English giser: from Old French, based on Latin gigeria ‘cooked entrails of fowl.’ The final -d was added in the 16th cent.

gizzard A muscular compartment of the alimentary canal of many animals that is specialized for breaking up food. In birds the gizzard lies between the proventriculus and the duodenum and contains small stones and grit, which assist in breaking up the food when the gizzard contracts. See also gastric mill.

gizzard In many animals, a part of the alimentary canal where food is broken into small particles before the main digestive processes commence. The walls of the gizzard are very muscular and may be equipped with a horny lining (e.g. in earthworms), sharp projections (e.g. in cockroaches), or may contain stones or grit swallowed by the animal (e.g. in birds).

gizzard XIV. ME. giser — OF. giser, gezier, juisier, also guisier (mod. gésier) :- Rom. *gicerium, for L. gigeria pl. The final d appears XVI. The pronunc. with hard g seems to be due to OF. guisier.