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Butchery

1. The business of a butcher.

2. Murder or manslaughter, especially. When committed with unusual barbarity; great or cruel slaughter. The perpetration of human butchery. (Prescott)

3. A slaughterhouse; the shambles; a place where blood is shed. Like as an ox is hanged in the butchery. (Fabyan)

Synonym: murder, slaughter, carnage. See massacre.

Origin: oe. Bocherie shambles, fr. F. Boucherie. See butcher.