'meat-eater' originates from the combination of 'meat' and 'eater', where 'meat' refers to the flesh of animals and 'eater' denotes one who consumes.

'Meat-eater' has been used in English since the 19th century to describe both humans and animals that primarily consume meat.

Initially, it meant 'one who eats meat', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.