Hav"oc (?), n. [W. hafog devastation, havoc; or, if this be itself fr. E. havoc, cf. OE. havot, or AS. hafoc hawk, which is a cruel or rapacious bird, or F. hai, voux! a cry to hounds.]
Wide and general destruction; devastation; waste.
As for Saul, he made havoc of the church.
Acts viii. 3.
Ye gods, what havoc does ambition make
Among your works!
Addison.
© Webster 1913.
Hav"oc, v. t.
To devastate; to destroy; to lay waste.
To waste and havoc yonder world.
Milton.
© Webster 1913.
Hav"oc, interj. [See Havoc, n.]
A cry in war as the signal for indiscriminate slaughter.
Toone.
Do not cry havoc, where you should but hunt
With modest warrant.
Shak.
Cry 'havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war!
Shak.
© Webster 1913.