‖ viscera, n. pl.
(ˈvɪsərə)
[L. viscera internal organs, pl. of viscus viscus2. Cf. It. viscere, Sp. and Pg. visceras, F. viscères.]
1. Anat. The soft contents of the principal cavities of the body; esp. the internal organs of the trunk; the entrails or bowels together with the heart, liver, lungs, etc.
| 1651 Biggs New Disp. ¶174 Exhausting the stock of aliment from the vasa and viscera. 1667 Phil. Trans. II. 545 Also lifting up the Viscera of the lower Belly. 1718 Quincy Compl. Disp. 111 For in the Intentions, the Seat of the Complaint is most commonly in the Viscera. 1750 Phil. Trans. XLVII. 83 [It is] to keep them from touching the abdominal viscera of this animal. 1801 Med. Jrnl. V. 500 Instancing its powerful effects in obstructions of the viscera, especially in liver cases. 1845 Budd Dis. Liver 32 Great stress is laid on the case of the mollusca, animals whose liver is generally immense in proportion to their other viscera. 1878 W. H. Dall Later Preh. Man 18 The viscera had evidently been removed, but the muscular and cutaneous tissues were in tolerable preservation. |
† b. fig. = bowel n.1 3. Obs.
| 1652 N. Culverwel Treat. ii. vi. (1661) 141 Do you think now that God will trust these with his more special mercies, with his viscera and tender mercies? |
2. transf. The interior; the inner parts: = bowel n.1 4.
| 1709 T. Robinson Vind. Mosaick Syst. 41 If the Atheist will venture himself into the Interior Viscera or Bowels of the Earth. 1828 Lights & Shades I. 210, I dived into the viscera of Newgate-market. |