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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Butcher

Butch'er, n.

noun

[Fr. boucher, Pr. bochier, L. Lat. bocherius, properly and originally slaughterer or killer of buck-goats, from Fr. bouc, Pr. boc, a buck-goat.]

Sense 1. One who slaughters animals, or dresses their flesh for market; one whose occupation is to kill animals for food.

Sense 2. A slaughterer; one who kills in a bloody manner; one given to slaughter. “Butcher of an innocent child.” Shak.

Butch'er, v. t.

verbtransitive

[imp. & p. p. BUTCHERED; p. pr. & vb. n. BUTCHERING.]

  1. To kill or slaughter, as animals, for food, or for market.
  2. To murder, especially in an unusually bloody or barbarous manner.

Ithocles Was murdered, rather butchered. Ford.