| slaughter | The act of killing. Specifically: The extensive, violent, bloody, or wanton destruction of life; carnage. "On war and mutual slaughter bent." (Milton) The act of killing cattle or other beasts for market. Synonym: Carnage, massacre, butchery, murder, havoc. Origin: OE. Slautir, slaughter, slaghter, Icel. Slatr slain flesh, modified by OE. Slaught, slaht, slaughter, fr. AS. Sleaht a stroke, blow; both from the root of E. Slay. See Slay, and cf. Onslaught. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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