a half of venison

English translation: Probably deer, but could be other animals as well.

11:44 Sep 25, 2008

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Food & Drink

English term or phrase: a half of venison

'What goods do you carry?'
'A half of venison and a bag of salt, for provision.'

A soldier is examining travellers at a road checkpoint in pre-revolutionary America. Is it any specific animal (deer?) or do I have to guess? TIA

allp KudoZ activity Questions: 909 (1 open) (19 closed without grading) Answers: 1695 Poland
Local time: 10:42

Selected answer:Probably deer, but could be other animals as well.

Explanation:
Description:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venison

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 45 mins (2008-09-25 12:30:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Definition (from the link above): Venison can describe meat of any animal killed by hunting. It was originally applied to any animal from the families Cervidae (deer), Leporidae (hares), and Suidae (wild pigs), and certain species of the genus Capra (goats and antelopes), such as elk, red deer, fallow deer, roe deer, moose, reindeer/caribou, pronghorn, brown hare, arctic hare, blue hare, wild boar, and ibex, but its usage is now almost entirely restricted to the flesh of various species of deer.

Selected response from:

Egil Presttun
Norway
Local time: 10:42

Grading comment

Thank you! Actually, it was a deer - I found that out later, in further parts of the text - but I wanted to know if it could have been any other animal, so this answer was most useful to me.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

4 +5

Probably deer, but could be other animals as well.

Egil Presttun

5 +3

half of the deer meet

savaria (X)

offical term is "a side of Venison"

Gary D

2 -1

polowke sarny/jelenia?

CalBoy

Summary of reference entries provided

Demi Ebrite

Answers

41 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): -1

polowke sarny/jelenia?

Explanation:
"venison" oznacza dziczyzne, moze to byc sarna, jelen albo cos innego upolowane...

CalBoy
Local time: 17:42
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Polish

Notes to answerer

Asker: sorry I've changed the language pair

43 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +5

Probably deer, but could be other animals as well.

Egil Presttun
Norway
Local time: 10:42
Native speaker of: Norwegian
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

Thank you! Actually, it was a deer - I found that out later, in further parts of the text - but I wanted to know if it could have been any other animal, so this answer was most useful to me.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Sara Mullin: Any animal in the Cervidae family. See: http://www.thebigzoo.com/zoo/Cervidae.asp

3 mins

-> Thanks!

disagree

savaria (X): not the animals themselves,but the meat of them

4 mins

-> If you read the question carefully, and if you read the whole answer, I think there should be no doubt. Thanks!

agree

Tania McConaghy: i think that modern usage=deer but earlier usage such as your text could mean other meat also. So wild meat or game would be OK

6 mins

-> Yes, the story is from pre-revolutionary America. Thanks!

agree

Cilian O'Tuama: the edible flesh of a game animal and especially a deer (M.-W.)

20 mins

-> Thanks!

agree

kmtext: Given the time period, I'd suggest that game would be the best modern option to use as back in those days, venison could be any of a variety of meats.

23 mins

-> Thanks!

agree

Louise Mawbey

1 hr

-> Thanks!

agree

Phong Le

12 hrs

-> Thanks!

44 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

half of the deer meet

Explanation:
Venison is the culinary name for meat from the family Cervidae. Deer meat, whether hunted or farmed, is termed venison.

The etymology of the word derives from the Latin Vēnor (-to hunt or pursue). This term entered English via Norman in the 11th century following the Norman invasion of England, and the establishing of Royal Forests

Venison can describe meat of any animal killed by hunting. It was originally applied to any animal from the families Cervidae (deer), Leporidae (hares), and Suidae (wild pigs), and certain species of the genus Capra (goats and antelopes), such as elk, red deer, fallow deer, roe deer, moose, reindeer/caribou, pronghorn, brown hare, arctic hare, blue hare, wild boar, and ibex, but its usage is now almost entirely restricted to the flesh of various species of deer.

Venison may be eaten as steaks, roasts, sausages, jerky and minced meat. It has a flavor similar to beef, but is much leaner and the fibers of the meat are short and tender. Organ meats are sometimes eaten, but would not be called venison; rather, they are called humble, as in the phrase "humble pie." Venison is lower in calories, cholesterol and fat than most cuts of beef, pork, or lamb. According to the USDA Nutrient Database (2007), cooked lean venison contains approximately 150 calories per 100g/3.5oz serving, and is a useful source of the following micronutrients: niacin, potassium, phosphorus, iron, selenium and zinc.[1]

Venison has enjoyed a rise in popularity in recent years, owing to the meat's lower fat content. Also, venison can often be obtained at lesser cost than beef by hunting (in some areas a doe license can cost as little as a few dollars), many families use it as a one to one substitute for beef especially in the US mid-south, Midwest, Mississippi Valley and Appalachia. In many areas this increased demand has led to a rise in the number of deer farms. What was once considered a meat for unsophisticated rural dwellers has become as exotic as ostrich meat to urbanites. Venison jerky can be purchased in such grocery stores, ordered online, and is served on some airlines. Venison burgers are typically so lean as to require the addition of fat in the form of bacon, olive oil or cheese, or blending with beef, to achieve parity with hamburger cooking time, texture, and taste. Some deer breeders have expressed an interest in breeding for a fatter animal that displays more marbling in the meat.

Since it is unknown whether chronic wasting disease, a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy among deer (similar to mad cow disease), can pass from deer to humans through the consumption of venison, there have been some fears of contamination of the food supply [1]. Recently, several known cases of the disease have occurred in deer farms throughout the United States and European farms in Scandinavia may also have had several cases.

New Zealand is the main source of farm raised venison and is recognised as a country free from CWD.

Farmers now have had tests developed especially for the particular species they raise to obtain better results than those used on cattle.

Venison can in principle be Kosher as the animal meets the requirements laid down for Jewish people, and indeed is available in places such as Israel and New York. However, kosher venison isn't available in the UK for an interesting reason. According to British law, deer must be killed in the open field and not brought to an abattoir.[dubious – discuss] However, the kosher rules require that an animal is killed with a single cut to the neck, and must be in perfect health before that, precluding them being shot in the field. In the early 20th century, there would be a once-a-year supply of kosher venison, when a group of Shochets would travel to the Rothschild family's estate and catch and slaughter some deer in the appropriate manner on the estate. This has not, however, been done for many years.

Venison is widely available in European supermarkets through the traditional hunting season, (October to December). The main cuts available to European consumers are derived from the saddle and the hind leg. Diced venison is also readily available in frozen form in most supermarket freezer bins. Most of this venison comes from New Zealand.

In North America venison is less available at retail due to the requirement that the animal is first inspected by USDA inspectors. There are very few abattoirs which process deer in North America, and most of this venison is destined for restaurants. Most venison sold through retail in the USA will come from New Zealand, it is available through some high end speciality grocers and some chains which focus on more 'natural' meats.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 44 perc (2008-09-25 12:29:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Aaaaaaaaaargh,this sh*t confidence level did not let me be quick!!!!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 óra (2008-09-25 16:57:21 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

If the asker chooses my answer as correct,as I intended it <<half of the deer meat>,then of course I will correct the KOG entry.

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venison

savaria (X)
Hungary
Local time: 10:42
Native speaker of:

Hungarian

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thank you.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

disagree

Cilian O'Tuama: and what do the other half do?

16 mins

-> Oh,sorry.That was a Freudian slip of my fingers.I haven't recognised it so far,just right now,so I didn't know what you meant.Actually,I meant 'meat',of course.If it will be chosen to be a glossary entry,I will of course correct the entry and the term

agree

Sheila Wilson: I imagine you mean "the meat from half a deer"

1 hr

-> yes,sorry,it was a freudian slip of my fingers.

neutral

airmailrpl: and where did they meet??

1 hr

-> sorry :)),it was a freudian slip of my fingers.(I must have been too tired)

agree

jccantrell: It is deer meat for sure, and maybe the other hunter got the other half and took another road.

2 hrs

-> :D,yes,sorry,it was a freudian slip of my fingers.(I must have been too tired)

neutral

writeaway: meat from half a deer. your answer means something else.

2 hrs

-> sorry,it was a freudian slip of my fingers..(I must have been too tired)

agree

Edith Kelly

2 hrs

-> thank you edit.

agree

humbird: I've never heard "venison" to be other than deer meat. Although "half" part should be left out.

9 hrs

-> thank you

10 hrs confidence:

offical term is "a side of Venison"

Explanation:
generally it is referred to as a side of Venison, or a side of beef, a side of lamb etc.
This is said if you have the animal cut in half so that there are 2 sides.

You would say

"He has a side of venison and a bag of salt as (for) provisions."

BUT, if it is that they were carrying cuts of venison, Ie; in portions of meat that were cut into segments, like the rump, the ribs, maybe 2 shoulders etc and the quantity seamed to make up about a half the combined amount of a venison (Deer) but not that of a full side. For instance the legs and neck may be missing, so the portions were selective but still made up half of the weight that would have been available.

Then you would say

"He has half a venison and a bag of salt as (for) provisions."

Gary D
Local time: 18:42
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thank you, that's a very useful linguistic explanation.

Reference comments

7 hrs

Reference

Reference information:
The use of the word 'venison' in the US meant 'deer'. Pigs and hogs were called 'pork', and most were wild at that time. Rabbit was called 'rabbit', etc.

The URL reference is of a book I own which is a compilation of recipes (receipts) submitted by women, from both the North and South and printed in a magazine called "Godey's Ladies Book" during the Civil War period. Browse the recipes - the number of recipes for 'venison' are few due to the men being gone to war, but the naming of the other meats used as ingredients is specific.

I collect recipe books from earlier periods in US history, and in the US, 'venison' refers to deer or elk meat. Sometimes deer and elk are differentiated, other times not, depending on the locale.

The reference to the 'half a venison' is common historically, as one could not carry the meat of more than half an animal on horseback or by cart, and cure it (with salt, then) fast enough so that it would not spoil.

The method of buying 'half' of a carcass' remains, to this day, a reference point for some state laws. For instance, in Kansas, if I want to buy non-commercially grown, organic, or local, small farm raised beef, the seller can only sell it in quantities of "1/2" of a 'beef side', or 'whole', meaning both halves.

Reference: http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=q79JS6rbUkIC&dq=godey...
Reference: http://www.underhillfarms.com/venison/products.shtml

Demi Ebrite
United States
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 8

Note to reference poster

Asker: Thank you, debrite, for the wonderful references :)

Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:

ProZ.com term search

Search millions of term translations

a half of venison

English translation: Probably deer, but could be other animals as well.

Answers

Reference comments

KudoZ™ translation help

Your current localization setting

Select a language

a half of venison

English translation: Probably deer, but could be other animals as well.

Answers

Reference comments

KudoZ™ translation help

You have native languages that can be verified

Your current localization setting

Select a language