Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Carcass \Car"cass\ (k[aum]r"kas), n.; pl. {Carcasses}. [Written
   also {carcase}.] [F. carcasse, fr. It. carcassa, fr. L. caro
   flesh + capsa chest, box, case. Cf. {Carnal}, {Case} a
   sheath.]
   1. A dead body, whether of man or beast; a corpse; now
      commonly the dead body of a beast.

            He turned to see the carcass of the lion. --Judges
                                                  xiv. 8.

            This kept thousands in the town whose carcasses went
            into the great pits by cartloads.     --De Foe.

   2. The living body; -- now commonly used in contempt or
      ridicule. ``To pamper his own carcass.'' --South.

            Lovely her face; was ne'er so fair a creature. For
            earthly carcass had a heavenly feature. --Oldham.

   3. The abandoned and decaying remains of some bulky and once
      comely thing, as a ship; the skeleton, or the uncovered or
      unfinished frame, of a thing.

            A rotten carcass of a boat.           --Shak.

   4. (Mil.) A hollow case or shell, filled with combustibles,
      to be thrown from a mortar or howitzer, to set fire to
      buldings, ships, etc.

            A discharge of carcasses and bombshells. --W. Iving.

Source : WordNet®

carcass
     n : the dead body of an animal especially one slaughtered and
         dressed for food [syn: {carcase}]