Slaugh"ter (?), n. [OE. slautir, slaughter, slaghter, Icel. slatr slain flesh, modified by OE. slaught, slaht, slaughter, fr. AS. sleaht a stroke, blow; both from the root of E. slay. See Slay, v. t., and cf. Onslaught.]
The act of killing.
Specifically: (a)
The extensive, violent, bloody, or wanton destruction of life; carnage.
On war and mutual slaughter bent.
Milton.
(b)
The act of killing cattle or other beasts for market
.
Syn. -- Carnage; massacre; butchery; murder; havoc.
© Webster 1913.
Slaugh"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slaughtered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Slaughtering.]
1.
To visit with great destruction of life; to kill; to slay in battle.
Your castle is surprised; your wife and babes
Savagely slaughtered.
Shak.
2.
To butcher; to kill for the market, as beasts.
© Webster 1913.