GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Butcher (bụchˈẽr), n. [OE. bochere, bochier, OF. bochier, F. boucher, orig., slaughterer of buck goats, fr. OF. boc, F. bouc, a buck goat; of German or Celtic origin. See Buck the animal.]
   1. One who slaughters animals, or dresses their flesh for market; one whose occupation it is to kill animals for food.
   
   [1913 Webster]
   
   
   2. A slaughterer; one who kills in large numbers, or with unusual cruelty; one who causes needless loss of life, as in battle. “Butcher of an innocent child.”  Shak.
   
   [1913 Webster]
   
   Butcher's meat, such flesh of animals slaughtered for food as is sold for that purpose by butchers, as beef, mutton, lamb, and pork.
   
   [1913 Webster]
   
   
         
       

2.       
   Butcher, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Butchered (); p. pr. & vb. n. Butchering.]
   1. To kill or slaughter (animals) for food, or for market; as, “to butcher hogs”.
   
   [1913 Webster]
   
   
   2. To murder, or kill, especially in an unusually bloody or barbarous manner.  Macaulay.
   
   [1913 Webster]
   
   [Ithocles] was murdered, rather butchered. Ford.
   
   [1913 Webster]
   
   
   3. to bungle badly; to botch; -- used also when an object is damaged (literally or figuratively) in an activity; as, “the new choir butchered the hymn”.
   
   Syn. -- mangle.
   [PJC]