GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Butcher , 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.]
   One who slaughters animals, or dresses their flesh for market; one whose occupation it is to kill animals for food.
   1913 Webster
   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.]
   To kill or slaughter (animals) for food, or for market; as, to butcher hogs.
   1913 Webster
   To murder, or kill, especially in an unusually bloody or barbarous manner.
   Macaulay.
   
   1913 Webster
   [Ithocles] was murdered, rather butchered.
   Ford.
   
   1913 Webster
   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