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gamy

gamy

9.9
A strong, unpleasant smell that shows meat is spoiled
  • adjective
  • /ˈɡeɪmi/
  • UK
translation icon : rancio
  • The meatloaf had a strong, gamy smell that made everyone hesitate before taking a bite.
  • a gamy flavor

Examples

  • The lamb has a nice, mellow, slightly gamy flavor and arrives cooked to order.

    Blog text (14)
  • Almost lost in the shadows in the corner of the room stood a giant man, stirring a steaming pot that sat on a table and gave off a rich, gamy smell.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • After cooking for hours, the wild game produced a distinctly gamy aroma that filled the kitchen.

  • The chef warned us that the venison might taste a bit gamy due to its rich flavor profile.

Synonyms

stinky
vsgamy
  • Informal
26 3.8

Very bad or of poor quality

applies only to meat spoiled smell rather than overall poor quality
high
vsgamy
  • UK
26 9.1

Having a very bad smell because it has gone rotten

is identical in meaning but focused on meat spoilage smell
yucky
vsgamy
  • Informal
22 6.8

Not pleasant to taste or smell

is limited to meat spoilage and stronger unpleasant smell
funky
vsgamy
  • Informal
18 6.9

Has a bad smell

refers to meat smell showing spoilage rather than any bad smell
gamey
vsgamy
3 7.6

A strong meat taste that is slightly wild or spoiled

focuses on clear spoilage or taint rather than mere distinctiveness
rank
vsgamy
6.7

Having a very strong unpleasant smell or taste

is specific to meat spoilage smell rather than any foul odor

Antonyms

778 1.0

Recently made or gathered food that is not spoiled

71 3.1

Helps your body and mind stay healthy

How Smelly

rotten
81 1.0
gamy
  • UK
9.9
smelly
118 1.0
odorous
1 5.5
fresh
314 1.0

Surface Forms

gamy positive

Morphology

gamy = game (transparent) = game + y

Directly formed from 'game' (meat from wild animals) + -y; meaning 'having the strong smell/flavour of game' is predictable.

Etymology

Gamy comes from game, meaning 'wild animals' that people hunt for food, and it was used for meat that still smells of the wild. So calling meat gamy means it has a strong, often unpleasant smell that reminds you of the wild.