corpse vs cadaver

frogapplause I have an osteochondral lesion and a brevis tear in my right ankle. My orthopedic surgeon said that I'll probably need to replace a small area of my ankle with "cadaver bone". I was creeped out at first, but now I'm okay with the idea... as long as I'm assured that I won't be receiving "zombie bone". Jun 16, 2009

oroboros Lez play copse 'n robbers! :) Oct 31, 2008

mollusque Cadaver also has overtones of emaciation that corpse does not. And a carcass is not necessarily dead ("get your sorry carcass over here") or formerly living ("an abandoned carcass of an automobile"). Oct 30, 2008

reesetee Great idea! Oct 30, 2008

john Great idea frogapplause, and it inspired a new open list: Word-offs. Oct 30, 2008

frogapplause I decided to go with cadaver. It sounded nicer... even though the meaning for corpse was perhaps the better choice.

To me, a cadaver is fresher. A corpse is moldy, buggy and too ripe. Oct 30, 2008

chained_bear I've always thought cadaver is such a lovely word to have such a ... non-lovely... meaning. Innit? Corpse is not such a nice word, though I like copse, precisely because it doesn't sound like such a nice thing, but it is. Oct 30, 2008

reesetee This is an exquisitely appropriate page for Halloween. Oct 30, 2008

frindley Sir Cadaveric, your phone is ringing. Oct 30, 2008

bilby 'Click here to send "Incinerator Of Cadaveric Leftovers" Ringtone to your Cell Phone'. Oct 30, 2008

sionnach Corpse makes me think of dadaists (as in exquisite corpse).

Cadaver makes me think of formaldehyde and individuals who are gaunt, bony and emaciated (as in cadaverous).

Oct 30, 2008

chained_bear I mean one never says, when speaking of squirrels for example, "corpses," unless one says "squirrel corpses." I said that wrong. I meant the animal in question is the adjective. Brain fuzzy. Need sleep. Oct 30, 2008

mollusque It's not a cadaver until its cold. Now what about carcasses? Oct 30, 2008

yarb Animals are more often carcasses, but yes, I see what you mean. But I don't see what you mean by "used as an adjective".

? Oct 30, 2008

chained_bear I have never heard cadaver used in reference to anything but human remains, but I have occasionally seen the word corpses used to refer to non-humans (though always it's used as an adjective). Anyone else notice this? Oct 30, 2008

bilby Is this better than Alien v Predator? Oct 30, 2008

frogapplause Okay. Thanks, future corpses... and, uh, future yarb. Oct 30, 2008

yarb I'm pledged to medical science; I'm a future cadaver. Oct 30, 2008

frogapplause Thanks, future corpses! Oct 30, 2008

frindley trivet is right: cadaver is the (mainly) medical term for corpse. Both words have Latin origins, so that's clearly not the reason for the doctors choosing "cadaver" over the other. Cadaver comes from cadere to fall, while corpse comes from corpus meaning body.

So perhaps the doctors want to make it clear that the body is not merely a body but a fallen (dead) one before they start hacking it about??? Oct 30, 2008

whichbe Cadaver makes me think "suave cavalier"--corpse makes me think "mobster gothic". Oct 30, 2008

Prolagus I wish I could help you... but you'd better ask someone else (maybe rolig? He usually answers this kind of questions)

(Edit: my comment was written at the same moment as yarb's and trivet's, when I thought nobody was replying) Oct 30, 2008

trivet I'd say that a cadaver is a medical specimen and a corpse is a dead body. If that helps... Oct 30, 2008

yarb Dunno, frogster. Cadaver is more clinical-sounding, but I think they both mean the same thing: a dead body. Could be wrong though. Oct 30, 2008

frogapplause Help, somebody! Oct 30, 2008

frogapplause This is a serious question. What's the main difference in meaning between these two words? I like the sound of "cadaver" better, but I'm not sure if it's correct in the gag below:

Another cavader
in a lawn chair...
challenging me
to a staring contest Oct 29, 2008