SLAUGHTER Slaugh"ter, n. Etym: [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, v. t., and cf. Onslaught.]
Defn: The act of killing. Specifically:
(a) The extensive, violent, bloody, or wanton destruction of life;
carnage.
On war and mutual slaughter bent. Milton.
(b) The act of killing cattle or other beasts for market.
Syn.
— Carnage; massacre; butchery; murder; havoc.
SLAUGHTER
Slaugh"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slaughtered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Slaughtering.]
1. To visit with great destruction of life; to kill; to slay in
battle.
Your castle is surprised; your wife and babes Savagely slaughtered.
Shak.
2. To butcher; to kill for the market, as beasts.
SLAUGHTERER
Slaugh"ter*er, n.
Defn: One who slaughters.
SLAUGHTERHOUSE
Slaugh"ter*house`, n.