haunch

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the hip, buttock, and upper thigh on one side of a person or animal

   The oversized coat hung below his haunches and nearly reached his knees.

2. 2
   noun

   the rear leg and adjoining loin of an animal, especially when prepared as meat

   The cook roasted a haunch of venison for the banquet.

From Middle English haunche, through Old French hanche, probably from a Germanic source related to words for a joint or bend. The anatomical sense developed into the culinary sense for the hindquarter and loin of an animal.

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