c.1290, from O.Fr.
venesoun "meat of large game," especially deer or boar, also "a hunt," from L.
venationem (nom.
venatio) "a hunt," also "game as the product of the hunt," from
venatus, p.p. of
venari "to hunt, pursue," probably from PIE base
*wen- "to strive after" (cf. Skt.
veti "follows after," Avestan
vayeiti "hunts," Lith.
veju "to hunt, pursue," O.C.S.
voji "warrior," O.E.
waþ "hunting," O.N.
veiðr "chase, hunting, fishing;" see
Venus).