noun
Refers to meat that has been dried for preservation, such as beef jerky or traditional dried meat products.
干し肉は長期保存に向いている。
Dried meat is suitable for long-term preservation.
旅のお供に干し肉を持っていった。
I took dried meat as a travel snack.
ビーフジャーキー specifically refers to beef jerky, a Western-style snack, while 干し肉 is a broader term for any dried meat, including traditional Japanese varieties.
Compound of 干し (hoshi, 'drying', the continuative form of 干す) and 肉 (niku, 'meat'). The spelling 乾し肉 uses a kanji that emphasizes removing moisture.