Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Venison \Ven"i*son\ (?; 277), n. [OE. veneison, veneson,
   venison, OF. veneison, F. venaison, L. venatio hunting, the
   chase, game, fr. venari, p. p. venatus, to hunt; perhaps akin
   to OHG. weidin?n, weidenen, to pasture, to hunt, G. weide
   pasturage. Cf. {Gain} to acquire, {Venation}.]
   1. Beasts of the chase. [Obs.] --Fabyan.

   2. Formerly, the flesh of any of the edible beasts of the
      chase, also of game birds; now, the flesh of animals of
      the deer kind exclusively.

Source : WordNet®

venison
     n : meat from a deer used as food