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Glite Dictionary
lairage

lairage

9.9
A place where animals wait before being killed or moved
  • noun
  • /ˈlɛərɪdʒ/
  • UK
translation icon : corral
  • The lairage was overcrowded last weekend.

Examples

  • Inspectors checked the lairage to ensure the animals had enough space and water.

  • The cattle waited in the lairage before being moved to the abattoir.

  • After arriving at the port, the sheep were kept in lairage overnight before transport.

  • Farmers often use a lairage to manage livestock.

  • The farm has a designated lairage area where the animals are kept before they are sent to market.

  • Before the cattle are transported, they spend some time in the lairage to rest and acclimatize.

  • The veterinarian inspected the lairage to ensure that the animals were comfortable and safe.

Synonyms

stockyard
vslairage
  • US
6 6.3

A fenced area where people keep animals like cows and sheep before transport or slaughter

is specifically for animals kept awaiting slaughter or transport
holding pen
vslairage
2 3.1

A small fenced area where farmers keep animals before moving them

is intended for pre-slaughter or pre-transport animal keeping rather than small temporary groups
holding yard
vslairage
1 5.1

A fenced area where animals like sheep wait briefly before someone moves them

is used mainly to keep animals before slaughter or transport rather than general movement
holding paddock
vslairage
  • UK
5.8

An enclosed area where farmers keep animals for a short time before moving them

is used mainly for animals kept awaiting slaughter or transport rather than sale

Surface Forms

lairage singular
lairages plural

Morphology

lairage = lair (semi-transparent) = lair + age

The word is clearly built from lair + -age, but the specialized sense 'temporary animal holding place before slaughter or transport' is narrower than the basic meaning of 'den'.

Etymology

Lairage comes from lair, a word for an animal's 'den' or resting spot, plus the ending -age that makes it a place. So a lairage is simply a place where animals wait or rest before they are transported or slaughtered.