[hamax]

Definition of meat by merriam-webster:

a: FOOD especially : solid food as distinguished from drink

b: the edible part of something as distinguished from its covering (such as a husk or shell)

The same as with milk. Nobody had problems with coconut milk until dairy lobby started fearing plant milk competition. And when one buys oat yogurt they know exactly what they'll get and what to compare it with. Or do you think fat free or lactose free cow milk yogurt shouldn't be called as such, since it's its own thing?

How we name things is important and naming things by their appearance and function is completely fine and useful and has been done since ever. Things like turkey ham or turkey bacon aren't new inventions.

[secondcoming]

Upvote this comment if you've ever encountered a native english speaker use the word 'meat' to be a synonym of 'solid food'.

Option Base 1

I would like to see when Merriam Webster added this obscure definition, let alone have it listed first.

[hamax]

Sigh...

This is THE original definition. Language later evolved and people started using the word meat to mostly mean animal flash. But that's just proof that language evolves over time and now it's evolving again to include broader range of food.

But in any case, I'm sure you've heard of meat of a fruit or nut.

[secondcoming]

Yes I have, but it's normally obvious from the context that a fruit or nut is being referred to, usually by qualifing the workd with either 'fruit' or 'nut', or the person holding either.

If someone asked me to buy some meat and I returned with a few apples I'd receive a Merriam-Webster dictionary to the head!

[hamax]

Exactly like with plant based meat, soy milk and veggie burger, right?

[thaumasiotes]

The original definition, as far as we can track it, would appear to be "wet".

[Grustaf]

You do use it in a more general sense in some contexts, but I completely agree with your point.