| butchery | 1. The business of a butcher. 2. Murder or manslaughter, especially. When committed with unusual barbarity; great or cruel slaughter. "The perpetration of human butchery." (Prescott) 3. A slaughterhouse; the shambles; a place where blood is shed. "Like as an ox is hanged in the butchery." (Fabyan) Synonym: Murder, slaughter, carnage. See Massacre. Origin: OE. Bocherie shambles, fr. F. Boucherie. See Butcher. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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