'Butcher' definitions:
Definition of 'Butcher'
From: GCIDE
- Butcher \Butch"er\, 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] butcher-bird butcher bird
Definition of 'Butcher'
From: GCIDE
- Butcher \Butch"er\ (b[.u]ch"[~e]r), 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]