lamb smell

[peter123]

Hi there,

Most people can't bear the smell of lamb. How can I describe that kind of smell of lamb. It is stinking but not rotten stink. BTW, how can I describe the smell of fish which is also unbearable?

Thanks
pete

 

[Anglika]

You are being a bit general by saying "most people"!

You can say it smells revolting/disgusting/muttony/fatty

Fish smells fishy and revolting [but only when it is going bad - fresh fish should not smell]

 

[vil]

Hi Peter123,

The smell and taste associated with lamb have been described as "gamy" (pronounced gāy'mē), which means having the flavor and odor of game (wild prey animals).

Regards.

V.

 

[Anglika]

Hi Peter123,

The smell and taste associated with lamb have been described as "gamy" (pronounced gāy'mē), which means having the flavor and odor of game (wild prey animals).

Regards.

V.

I have never met this - where did you find this statement? The smell and flavour of game meat is very different from the fatty smell of mutton.

 

[susiedqq]

Any smell that upsets you so much can be called "putrid."

You don't have to have a descriptive word for the certain item.

BTW, I thought it was "gamey"

 

[stuartnz]

You are being a bit general by saying "most people"!

You can say it smells revolting/disgusting/muttony/fatty

Fish smells fishy and revolting [but only when it is going bad - fresh fish should not smell]

This reminds me of a quote to the effect that "fish is the only food that is rotten when it smells like what it is".

As for the smell of lamb, apart from the fact that most Kiwis have a fondness for it, I would definitely not use the word "muttony" as the difference between lamb and mutton is strikingly obvious. Especially if one's grown up in a country with anywhere from 35-80 million sheep.

 

[Anglika]

Can you put into words what the difference is?

 

[stuartnz]

Can you put into words what the difference is?

My reaction to the smell of mutton would be similar to Peter's described reaction to lamb. Mutton somehow smells old, fatty, and a bit pungent. Lamb, to me and many other NZers, smells lighter, perhaps sweeter, definitely less fatty or tallowish, if that's a word.

 

[susiedqq]

The smell of "wet wool" is how some people describe it.

 

[vil]

Hi Anglika and susiedqq,

gamy also gamey (for me the same old story)

gamy: Definition and Much More from Answers.com

Regards.

V.

 

[stuartnz]

Unless the the lamb being spoken about is very different from NZ lamb, it would not smell gam(e)y. If anything, it's the lighter, less strongly defined smell of lamb that distinguishes it from mutton. If one smelled true game meats, such as venison, wild pig or wild goat, and then smelled lamb, I'm sure the inaptness of the word "gam(e)y" to describe the smell of lamb would be apparent.

 

[Ouisch]

It's interesting...the only time I've ever had lamb was while visiting the UK. It's not a very common dinner staple in the US, so I've never smelled it while it was cooking. Fish, on the other hand, has always been notorious for creating a "fishy" smell while frying or broiling. There used to be all sorts of TV commercials for products and methods of cooking that would eliminate the fishy smell. When fast-food fish and chip chains like Arthur Treacher's became common, it was a blessing for Catholic families - they could order out on Fridays rather than making the house smell like fish!