An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

1) To seize and devour prey, as an animal does.
2) An animal hunted or seized for food, especially by a carnivorous animal (Dictionary.com).

M.E. preye, from O.Fr. preie, from L. praeda "booty, plunder, game hunted;" ultimately from prehendere "to grasp, seize."

1) Cavidan, related to Khotanese cev- "to get, seize," Ossetic cævyn, cavd "to hit, to strike," Pers. câpidan "to plunder," cafsidan, caspidan "to stick; to plunder;" Proto-Ir. *cap- "to seize."
2) Cavâk, from cav- present stem of cavidan, as above, + -âk suffix denoting object of an action.

An animal that is hunted and killed by a → predator as food.

→ prey; → animal.