- venison (n.)
- late 13c., from Old French venesoun "meat of large game," especially deer or boar, also "a hunt," from Latin venationem (nominative venatio) "a hunt," also "game as the product of the hunt," from venatus, past participle of venari "to hunt, pursue," probably from PIE root *weie- "to strive after, pursue with vigor, desire" (cf. Sanskrit veti "follows after," Avestan vayeiti "hunts," Lithuanian veju "to hunt, pursue," Old Church Slavonic voji "warrior," Old English waþ "hunting," Old Norse veiðr "chase, hunting, fishing;" see Venus).