"dead body of an animal," late 13c., from Anglo-French carcois, from or influenced by Old French charcois (Modern French carcasse) "trunk of a body, chest, carcass," and Anglo-Latin carcosium "dead body," all of unknown origin; original form uncertain. It may have been assimilated to Latin caro "flesh." Not used of humans after c. 1750, except contemptuously. Italian carcassa probably is a French loan-word.

1690s in the scientific use in mechanics, "product of the mass and velocity of a body; quantity of motion of a moving body," from Latin momentum "movement, moving power" (see moment). Figurative use, "force gained by movement, an impulse, impelling force," dates from 1782.

1714, "divest of a body, free from flesh," of a soul or spirit, "separate from a body," from dis- "not" + embody. Related: Disembodiment "act or condition of being disembodied" (1837); earlier it was used of the disbanding of military regiments (1804).

"substance developed in blood as an antitoxin," 1901, a hybrid formed from anti- "against" + body. Probably a translation of German Antikörper, condensed from a phrase such as anti-toxischer Körper "anti-toxic body" (1891).

"healthy and sufficiently strong," 1620s; see able + body.

by c. 1950, an abbreviation of body odor; an advertisers' invention.

"a body of lawmakers," 1670s; see legislator + -ure.

"an inclination of the body or head" (in reverence, etc.), 1650s, from bow (v.1).

"imperfect absorption (of food, by the body)," 1879, from mal- + absorption.

"body of principles or doctrines of the Shiites;" by 1883, from Shia + -ism.