butchery

[ booch-uh-ree ]

noun

, plural butch·er·ies.

1. a slaughterhouse.
2. brutal or wanton slaughter of animals or humans; carnage.
3. the trade or business of a butcher. butcher.
4. the act of bungling or botching.

butchery

/ ˈbʊtʃərɪ /

noun

1. the business or work of a butcher
2. wanton and indiscriminate slaughter; carnage
3. See slaughterhouse
   a less common word for slaughterhouse

Word History and Origins

Origin of butchery¹

1300–50; Middle English bocherie < Anglo-French, Middle French boucherie. See butcher, -y ³

Example Sentences

He was the first diplomat on the scene to witness the butchery in Sabra and Shatila in September 1982.

From The Daily Beast

At best, he and other dictators will draw the lesson that they need to commit their butchery in other ways.

From The Daily Beast

The Daily Beast: In the 1920s, Chaim Soutine riffed on Rembrandt's butchery.

From The Daily Beast

None of which would pardon nor condone the butchery he is said to have unleashed.

From The Daily Beast

Women are taking butchery classes and embracing the new compassionate meat-eating ethos.

From The Daily Beast

The Seneschal turned to her again with his unanswered questions touching the end of that butchery above-stairs.

From Project Gutenberg

To be sure, he might kill the dog with the hatchet, but such butchery was repugnant to him, and he quickly dismissed the idea.

From Project Gutenberg

The warmth of the flowing blood and the site of the shocking butchery made Fergan reel with dizziness.

From Project Gutenberg

Prison after prison was invested, entered, and under the same form of proceeding made the scene of the same inhuman butchery.

From Project Gutenberg

The whole sight was a good deal like butchery, and Colin felt a little uncomfortable.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bloodbath
• bloodletting
• carnage