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gamy

gamy

1 9.9
A strong, unpleasant smell that shows meat is spoiled
  • adjective
  • /ˈɡeɪmi/
  • UK
: 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
33 3.8

Very bad or of poor quality

applies only to meat spoiled smell rather than overall poor quality
yucky
vsgamy
  • Informal
21 6.8

Not pleasant to taste or smell

is limited to meat spoilage and stronger unpleasant smell
funky
vsgamy
  • Informal
15 6.9

Has a bad smell

refers to meat smell showing spoilage rather than any bad smell
rank
vsgamy
11 6.7

Having a very strong unpleasant smell or taste

is specific to meat spoilage smell rather than any foul odor
gamey
vsgamy
4 7.6

A strong meat taste that is slightly wild or spoiled

focuses on clear spoilage or taint rather than mere distinctiveness
high
vsgamy
  • UK
1 9.1

Having a very bad smell because it has gone rotten

is identical in meaning but focused on meat spoilage smell

Antonyms

557 1.0

Recently made or gathered food that is not spoiled

60 3.1

Helps your body and mind stay healthy

How Smelly

rotten
70 1.0
gamy
  • UK
1 9.9
smelly
93 1.0
odorous
1 5.5
fresh
241 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.