bloodletting

[ bluhd-let-ing ]

/ ˈblʌdˌlɛt ɪŋ /

the act or practice of letting blood by opening a vein; phlebotomy.

bloodshed or slaughter.

Informal. severe cutbacks or reduction in personnel, appropriations, etc.: The company went through a period of bloodletting in the 1970s.

RELATED WORDS

First recorded in 1175–1225, bloodletting is from the Middle English word blod letunge. See blood, let¹, -ing¹

Related formsblood·let·ter, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

The bloodletting in Syria has unfolded with deliberate relentlessness.
A New Start To U.S. Policy In Syria Can Save Lives|Tom Perriello|February 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So the question is, can Lebanon survive the "Lebanonization" of Syria without another abominable round of bloodletting?
Is Syria Being 'Lebanized' or is Lebanon Being 'Syrianized'?|Hussein Ibish|August 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
As bloodletting continues and criminals take advantage of the political chaos, ordinary Egyptians are arming themselves.
Egypt’s Arms Race|Sophia Jones|August 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He shrugged, “I did not expect it to go on this long,” he said of the bloodletting that had cost 100,000 lives.
In Syria, Europe & Boston, the Past Is Never Finished|Kati Marton|May 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Meantime, Syrians still drown in bloodletting, chaos, and refugees, while the Assad side weakens only by endless inches.
How to Save Syria From al Qaeda|Leslie H. Gelb|February 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
This fever will cure him, they say it sobers like bloodletting.
Beauchamp's Career, Complete|George Meredith
They are aware of bloodletting, which they practise most indiscriminately.
Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and The|William Griffith
Magendie was firmly opposed to bloodletting and ordered physicians working under him not to bleed.
Bloodletting Instruments in the National Museum of History and Technology|Audrey Davis
This here business ain't going to be ended without a rare lot of bloodletting.
The Hero of Panama|F. S. Brereton
Bloodletting, the removal of blood from the body, has been practiced in some form by almost all societies and cultures.
Bloodletting Instruments in the National Museum of History and Technology|Audrey Davis

[ blŭd′lĕt′ĭng ]

The therapeutic removal of blood, usually from a vein.

Related formsblood′let′ter n.