butcher

[booch-er]

noun

1. a retail or wholesale dealer in meat.

2. a person who slaughters certain animals, or who dresses the flesh of animals, fish, or poultry, for food or market.

3. a person guilty of brutal or indiscriminate slaughter or murder.

   Synonyms: cutthroat, killer

4. a vendor who hawks newspapers, candy, beverages, etc., as on a train, at a stadium, etc.

verb (used with object)

1. to slaughter or dress (animals, fish, or poultry) for market.

2. to kill indiscriminately or brutally.

3. to bungle; botch.

   to butcher a job.

butcher

/ ˈbʊtʃə /

noun

1. a retailer of meat

2. a person who slaughters or dresses meat for market

3. an indiscriminate or brutal murderer

4. a person who destroys, ruins, or bungles something

verb

1. to slaughter or dress (animals) for meat

2. to kill indiscriminately or brutally

3. to make a mess of; botch; ruin

Other Word Forms

• butcherer noun
• unbutchered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of butcher¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English bocher, from Anglo-French; Old French bo(u)chier, equivalent to bo(u)c “he-goat” (from unattested Gaulish bucco-; compare Old Irish boc, Welsh bwch; akin to buck ¹ ) + -ier -ier ² ( -er ² )

Word History and Origins

Origin of butcher¹

C13: from Old French bouchier , from bouc he-goat, probably of Celtic origin; see _buck ¹ ; compare Welsh bwch he-goat

Synonym Study

See slaughter.

Example Sentences

A host is also responsible for introducing every comic onstage, mentioning their credits and not butchering their name — all while hoping they actually make it on time for their spot.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Her father, a butcher by trade, emigrated and found work as a bracero picking crops in fields up and down the West Coast.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There’s a look in his eye like a hungry mutt staring at a butcher shop window: pathetic and moony and flummoxed by how to get what he wants.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Retail sales rose by 0.5% during the month, slightly higher than analysts had expected, with butchers, bakers, clothing stores and online shopping all reporting growth.

Read more on BBC

He agreed with Mr Field that the younger generation seemed to forgo visiting butchers' shops, preferring the convenience of the supermarket.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• slaughter