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. 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

Signs of butchery on the bones, along with stone tools and other evidence, indicate that Taguatagua 3 represents a temporary camp established around the task of processing the large carcass.

From Science Daily

But prosecution barrister Caroline Carberry KC described the procedures as little more than "human butchery" carried out using household instruments, done for financial reward and for sexual, rather than psychiatric, reasons.

From BBC

But after he kills the king to secure the throne for himself, he becomes an unchecked tyrant, devolving into paranoia and butchery.

From Los Angeles Times

“Local meat is expensive. It’s unfortunately become a luxury product, but that isn’t butchers’ fault or reason to unfairly single them out,” said Salim Lamari, the 40-year-old owner of a family butchery east of Algiers.

From Seattle Times

Which I have, but as I say, butchery is a Disney movie next to this.

From Salon

Related Words

• bloodbath
• bloodletting
• carnage