slaughtern.
/ˈslɔːtə/, U.S. /ˈslɔdər/, /ˈslɑdər/ 1.
a. The killing of cattle, sheep, or other animals for food. (See also 4.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > killing > killing of animals > [noun]
slaughtera1300
to make larder ofa1330
murdering?a1475
fall1575
butchering1609
ovicide1828
felicide1832
poultrycide1841
piscicide1847
vealing1847
kill1850
slaughterage1854
birdicide1862
apricide1864
insecticide1865
vulpicidism1865
vulpicide1873
serpenticide1882
tauricide1882
vaccicide1887
leporicide1914
culling1938
cull1958
a1300 E.E. Psalter xliii. 24 Als schepe of slaghter wend er we.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xviii. i. 1101 Fisshe fleeþ..þe place of waisshynge and of slaughter of oþer fissh.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 458/2 Slawtyr, of beestys, mactacio.
1487 Act 4 Hen. VII c. 3 The Slaughter of Beasts..had and done in the Butchery.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 146 From his Herd he culls, For Slaughter, four the fairest of his Bulls. View more context for this quotation
a1704 T. Brown Dialogues of Dead in 4th Vol. Wks. (1720) 183 A Son of Slaughter at White-Chapel converted to the Observation of Fish-days.
1868 Standard 15 Dec. 6 The laws..that have traditionally been handed down with respect to the slaughter of cattle.
b. The skins of killed beasts. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > skin or hide > [noun] > skin from slaughtered animals
slaughter-skin1753
slaughter1789
1789 J. Brand Hist. & Antiq. Newcastle II. 317 The ordinary of the tanners..enjoined..That each brother should have but one butcher to buy slaughter of.
2. The killing or slaying of a person; murder, homicide, esp. of a brutal kind.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > killing > man-killing or homicide > murder or assassination > [noun]
murderingeOE
murderOE
banec1175
morth gamec1275
morth spellc1275
slaughterc1325
murdermenta1400
murderdom1514
massacre1589
remove1592
assassinate1596
assassinment1602
assassination1610
assassinacy1611
assassinaya1641
removal1655
murderation1715
murdrum1767
thugdom1839
aliicide1868
hatchet job1925
liquidation1925
rubout1927
murder one1966
neutralization1971
α.
β. c1480 (a1400) St. Paul 457 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 42 And þai..throw browthir slawchtir can þe file.1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) vi. l. 215 The saklace slauchtyr off hir.1571 G. Buchanan Admonitioun Trew Lordis sig. A.3v Sum of thame ar conseillaris of the King his fatheris slauchter.1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 288 Throw counsell of his wyf he inuented the kings slauchtre.c1325 Metr. Hom. 38 I wille you telle Hou it of his slahter felle.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6752 If þe son be risen þan, It sal be slaghter telld o man.
c1422 T. Hoccleve Jereslaus' Wife 882 No wight but shee Mighte of this slaghtre and murdre gilty be.
c1450 Mirour Saluacioun (Roxb.) 4 Dauid after the slaghter of Golie.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. xix. sig. Tt3 Where she had made a scaffold,..and there caused them to be kept, as ready for the slaughter.
1587 J. Higgins Mirour for Magistrates (new ed.) i. Porrex. f. 44 I procurde hir wrath by slaughter of hir sonne.
1592 Arden of Feversham ii. ii The villaine hath sworne the slaughter of his maister.
1652 J. Burroughes Expos. Hosea (ed. 2) vii. 142 It is a fruit, I say, of the slaughter of Christ and of his blood.
a1722 J. Lauder Decisions (1759) I. 13 Our law concludes all it finds with cold steel..guilty of the slaughter.
1820 W. Scott Monastery III. ii. 55 He felt..indignant at the supposed slaughter of young Glendinning.
1825 W. Scott Betrothed xv, in Tales Crusaders II. 318 So singular were the tidings of the Constable's slaughter.
3.
a. The killing of large numbers of persons in war, battle, etc.; massacre, carnage.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > killing > slaughter > [noun]
sleightc893
wal-slaught?a900
qualeeOE
deathOE
swordc1000
morthOE
slaughta1225
destroyingc1300
drepingc1300
martyrdomc1325
murderc1325
mortc1330
sleighterc1330
slaughter1338
iron and firea1387
murraina1387
manslaughtera1400
martyre?a1400
quella1425
occision?a1430
decease1513
destruction1526
slaughting1535
butchery?1536
butchering1572
massacrea1578
slaughterdom1592
slaughtering1597
carnage1600
massacring1600
slaughtery1604
internecion1610
decimationa1613
destroy1616
trucidation1623
stragea1632
sword-wrack1646
interemption1656
carnifice1657
panolethry1668
butcher work1808
bloodbath1814
populicide1824
man-slaughtering1851
battue1864
mass murder1917
genocide1944
overkill1957
α.
figurative.1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Kviii In oppression and slaughter of all true soules that resisteth hym.1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy iii. iv. i. iii. 751 They make a slaughter of Scriptures.in extended use.1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. iv. 160 The slaughter [by scurvy] would have been..terrible.1971 Rand Daily Mail (Johannesburg) 27 Mar. 5/3 The slaughter on our roads and damage to property are apparently accepted with equanimity.β. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xix. 567 A felloun slauchtir maid thai thair.1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) v. l. 930 On Sotheron men full gret slauchtyr thai maid.1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid v. xiii. 98 Sic multitude Of slauchter he maid.1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 193 This, in the secunde ȝeir of his regne, maid gret slachter amang the Pechtes.1338 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 91 Sen þis greuance hard, þe slauhter & þe drede,..sone afterward þe kyng to Ȝork ȝede.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 307 Þat ȝere was þe grete slauȝter of Saxons.
1420–22 J. Lydgate Story of Thebes iii. (Laud 557) He made of hem..So grete slaughter and occisioun, That as þe deth fro his swerd þey fled.
1490 Caxton's Blanchardyn & Eglantine (1962) xxiv. 92 The grete damage and grete slawghtir that he had don of his folke.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) cxliii. 637 There was on both partyes such slauter that it was marueyle to behold it.
1597 Bp. J. King Lect. Ionas xv. 200 What slaughter and havocke it caused, what profusion of bloude betweene the nobles and the commons.
1667 J. Dryden Indian Emperour v. ii. 60 Slaughter grows murder when it goes too far, And makes a Massacre what was a War.
1713 J. Addison Cato i. i The field Strow'd with Rome's citizens, and drench'd in slaughter.
1751 T. Gray Elegy xvii. 8 To wade through slaughter to a throne.
1835 W. Irving Tour on Prairies 122 The chief..cut his way through the enemy with great slaughter.
1852 G. Grote Hist. Greece IX. ii. lxix. 64 These Greeks repelled the Persian assailants with considerable slaughter.
b. Personified.
ΚΠ
a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) iii. i. 163 They were besmear'd and ouer-staind With slaughters pencill. View more context for this quotation
1735 W. Somervile Chace ii. 496 Grim Slaughter strides along, Glutting her greedy Jaws.
1840 J. G. Whittier Maiden with Fair Brown Tresses 129 When the red right-hand of slaughter Moulders with the steel it swung.
c. Persons slain in battle, etc. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > killing > person killed > [noun] > killed in battle
fallen1698
slaughter1757
casualty1844
1757 W. Wilkie Epigoniad v. 122 Some, 'midst the heaps of slaughter, sought their dead.
1764 O. Goldsmith Hist. Eng. in Lett. (1772) I. 210 His body being found amidst a heap of slaughter.
4. In the phrases to or for the slaughter.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > killing > [adverb] > to or for killing
to or for the slaughtera1400
to larder1532
a1400 Bible (Paues) Acts viii. 32 As a schepe vnto þo slawghter was he ledde.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Ezek. ix. 2 Euery man [had] a weapen in his honde to the slaughter.
1611 Bible (King James) Psalms xliv. 22 Wee are counted as sheepe for the slaughter . View more context for this quotation
1650 J. Trapp Clavis to Bible (Num. xxxv. 21) 73 Wilful murtherers..should..be taken from the altar to the slaughter.
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 238 Two miserable Wretches..were now brought out for the Slaughter.
1785 W. Cowper Task vi. 421 Witness the patient ox,..Driv'n to the slaughter.
1911 M. Beerbohm Zuleika Dobson viii. 137 I..am going to die for the love I bear this woman. And let no man think I go unwilling. I am no lamb led to the slaughter.
1926 W. R. Inge Lay Thoughts ii. ii. 98 The Russians..were driven like sheep to the slaughter, in some cases unarmed, and always insufficiently protected by artillery.
1955 J. Masters Coromandel! iii. 203 They are on their way now... They will be goats for the slaughter.
1982 Daily Tel. 10 Feb. 16/5 The rank-and-file membership of the union are meekly following their so-called leaders like lambs to the slaughter.
5. A particular instance or occurrence of slaying or massacre.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > killing > slaughter > [noun] > instance of
slaughter1483
Sicilian Vespers1586
plot of the long knivesa1604
blood feast?1611
Parisian matins1614
Parisian massacre1657
bloodbath1814
Roman holiday1818
holocaust1833
bath of blood1882
pogrom1889
bloodfest1907
blood purge1959
1483 Cath. Angl. 342/2 A Slaghter, cedes.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Num. xxxv. B Ye shall geue them sixe fre cities, that he which committeth a slaughter, maie flye thither [thē (them) & cōmitteth in text].
1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 33 The slaughters made by the gunne.
1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 131 There was a horrible slaughter, for..those that fled could not escape their pursuers.
1723 D. Defoe Hist. Col. Jack (ed. 2) 270 We made a..terrible Slaughter.
1836 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece III. xxii. 215 Of those who escaped this slaughter most met with death in some other form.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. xxi. 575 They next resolved..that the slaughter was a murder.
ΚΠ
1581 T. Styward Pathwaie to Martiall Discipline i. 45 These..be placed in the heart of the battaile, vsuallie called the slaughter of the field, or execution of the same, who commonlie doe not fight but in verie great extremitie.
1598 R. Barret Theorike & Pract. Mod. Warres iii. 47 Halberdes or billes..we call..the gard of the ensignes, and slaughter of the field.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > injury > [noun] > wound > cut
carfa1000
seamc1400
slapc1480
gap?a1500
gash1528
cut1530
scarification?1541
chopping1558
slash1580
slaughter1592
snip1600
hacka1610
sluice1648
1592 R. Greene Quip for Vpstart Courtier sig. F4v I pray you how many slaughters doe you make in a poore Calues skinne?
1606 G. W. tr. Justinus Hist. ii. 12 This man, after innumerable slaughters receiued in the Battayle, as also hauing pursued the Enemy [etc.].
8. figurative.
a. An excessive cutting down of trees.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > forestry or arboriculture > lumbering > [noun] > felling trees
fallinga1425
felling1447
fell1531
fall1535
woodfall1588
slaughter1657
logging1706
tree-felling1759
fallage1788
slashing1822
fellage1839
wood-cutting1872
throw1879
bush-falling1882
drive1899
bushwhacking1906
clear-cutting1922
coupe1922
landnam1950
1657 W. Coles Adam in Eden cxv. 167 There hath been of late dayes, Such a Slaughter of Oaks, and other Trees, all over this Land.
b. A sweeping reduction in the price of goods in order to effect a clearance.
ΚΠ
1891 in Cent. Dict.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a. Attributive, in sense of ‘intended or set aside to be killed for food’, as slaughter cattle, slaughter cow, slaughter lamb, slaughter ox, slaughter sheep, slaugher stock.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > [adjective]
killedc1440
slaughter1535
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Zech. xi. 7 I myself fedde ye slaughter shepe.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 641 Such as are killed they call the skins of slaughter-Lambs.
1612 Extr. Burgh Rec. Stirling I. 132 Ilk slauchter kow passing langis the brig,..tua pennies.
1645 S. Rutherford Tryal & Trivmph of Faith (1845) 43 It should be but the logic of a beast, if the slaughter ox should say [etc.].
1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting vii. 301 Slaughter oxen or cows, and milch cows, are not to be had for money.
1899 C. J. C. Hyne Further Adventures Capt. Kettle v. 123 The foreign crew of the lifeboat, limp with scare, would have been mere slaughter-pigs on board, even if they could have been lured there.
1958 Sunday Times (Johannesburg) 14 Dec. 7/1 The highest price for slaughter stock at the Ladysmith Farmers' Association stock sale last week was £52 10s.
1968 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 13 Feb. b10/3 Slaughter cattle of mixed quality.
1977 West Briton 25 Aug. 6/1 (advt.) We have received Ministry approval under this Order for the sale of slaughter sheep and store and breeding sheep on the same day.
1978 Morecambe Guardian 14 Mar. 22/1 (advt.) Usual Sale of Livestock including..Fat Cattle and Slaughter Cows.
b. Attributive, with words denoting a place used for slaughtering, as slaughter-pen, slaughter-pit, slaughter-place, slaughter-room, slaughter-shop, slaughter-yard.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > killing > killing of animals > [noun] > slaughter-house
flesh housec1000
butchery1340
slaughterhousec1374
flesh-shamblesa1410
fleshhewery1483
shambles1548
slaughtery1648
slaughter-pen1688
shamble1885
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation for table or cooking > preparation of meat > [noun] > abattoir
slaughterhousec1374
slaughter-yard1688
abattoir1809
the Yards1865
saladero1870
freezing works1889
chicken factory1893
1688 J. Bunyan Good News for Vilest of Men 4 Jerusalem was now become the Shambles, the very Slaughter-shop for Saints.
1796 Deb. Congr. U.S. 28 Dec. (1849) 1720 Georgia was a slaughter-pen during the war.
1819 W. Scott Legend of Montrose vi, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. III. 271 Ere we reach yon fatal slaughter-place.
1833 Penny Cycl. I. 8/2 Slaughter-rooms, built of stone.
1856 W. G. Simms Charlemont ii. 27 These lads..raise hogs for the slaughter-pen.
1878 Rep. Indian Affairs (U.S.) 151 For the first time in the history of this agency Indians have been induced..to perform the labor of the slaughter-pen.
1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 218 All that's a turn too good for making slaughter-yard bacon, does for the Chinamen.
1897 Daily News 24 Feb. 5/2 The troops who have just entered the city found many of these slaughter pits.
1928 E. Blunden Undertones of War iv. 37 The casualties caused by the mine were sixty or more. Cuinchy..was a slaughter-yard.
1968 T. Kinsella Nightwalker 28 Pigs in a slaughteryard that turn and savage each other.
c. Objective, as slaughter-breathing, slaughter-dealing, slaughter-threatening adjs.
ΚΠ
1777 R. Potter tr. Æschylus Supplicants in tr. Æschylus Tragedies 131 Pursuit's alarms, And slaughter-threat'ning arms.
1814 Sporting Mag. 43 259 The slaughter-breathing lad in the blue coat.
1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad II. xviii. 214 His slaughter-dealing hands.
C2. Miscellaneous and special combinations.
a.
slaughter-feast n.
ΚΠ
1606 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. (new ed.) ii. iv. 7 This sauage Beast, Which in his Fold would make a Slaughter-feast.
slaughter-market n.
ΚΠ
1847 W. C. L. Martin Ox 59/1 The cottier or small farmer, who could not pretend to rear beasts for the slaughter market.
slaughter-stack n.
ΚΠ
1593 T. Nashe Christs Teares f. 20v The clowde-climing slaughter-sacke [Errata: slaughter-stack] of thy dead carkases.
slaughter-weapon n.
ΚΠ
1611 Bible (King James) Ezek. ix. 2 Euery man a slaughter weapon in his hand. View more context for this quotation
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian ix, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. I. 268 The hand-waled murderers, whose hands are hard as horn wi' haudin the slaughter-weapons.
slaughter-work n.
ΚΠ
1598 R. Barret Theorike & Pract. Mod. Warres i. i. 4 Our nation hath performed round slaughter~worke therewith.
b. † slaughter-slave n. Obsolete a vile executioner.† slaughter sword n. Obsolete (see slaugh-sword n.).
slaughter-master n. = slaughterer n. 3.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > trader > [noun] > dealer buying at very low prices
slaughter-master1841
slaughterer1851
1841 W. Greener Sci. Gunnery 181 The slaughter-master..is a cormorant, who swallows the food of the weak.
slaughter price n. (see quot. 1893 and cf. 8b).
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > monetary value > price > low price or rate > [noun] > very low price
rubbish price1876
sacrifice price1888
slaughter price1893
1893 Daily News 27 Jan. 7/4 The bank premises had been written down to what was called in the north ‘slaughter prices’—that was to say, not what they would fetch in the market, but as mere bricks and mortar.
slaughter shop n. = slaughterhouse n. 4b.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > trading place > place where retail transactions made > [noun] > shop > other types of shop
show shop1787
lock-up shop1795
cash-store1811
boat shop1813
slaughter shop1841
slaughterhouse1851
ticket-shop1851
charity shop1853
magic shop1853
company store1872
Army and Navy1878
five-and-ten1880
farthing-shop1889
funeral home1895
goodwill1916
shop-within-(a)-shop1916
cash and carry1917
Piggly Wiggly1917
poverty shop1948
discount house1949
anchor1960
box store1976
mom-and-pop1976
op shop1978
duty-free1980
pound shop1983
pop-up2000
1841 W. Greener Sci. Gunnery 180 Tradesmen..whose establishment bears the euphonious titles of the ‘slaughter shop’ and ‘blood house’.
slaughter-skin n. (see quot. 1753) ? Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > skin or hide > [noun] > skin from slaughtered animals
slaughter-skin1753
slaughter1789
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. Slaughter-skins, a term used by our curriers..for the skins of oxen, or other beasts, when fresh, and covered with the hair.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > capital punishment > [noun] > executioner
manquellera1275
officer?1387
smiterc1390
manslayera1425
man's quellerc1429
baserc1480
butcher1483
executora1513
slaughter-slave1556
carnifex1561
executioner1561
deathsman1589
verdugo1616
hals-mana1658
1556 in J. Foxe Actes & Monuments (1583) II. 1842/2 The common cut throte & generall slaughter slaue to all the Bishops of Englande.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > sharp weapon > side arms > sword > [noun] > long or large sword
longswordc1275
slaugh-sword1548
slaughter sword1569
katana1613
bum-bladea1640
swinger1673
whanger1826
espadon1846
two-hander1888
1569 Act 11 Elizabeth I c. 1 in Statutes Ireland (1621) 314 The Scottes..with their slaughter swords hewed him to peeces.
slaughter-year n. (see quot. 1728).
ΚΠ
1728 P. Walker Life A. Peden (1827) Pref. 32 The two bloody Slaughter-years.., 1684, 1685, wherein 82 of the Lord's suffering People were..cruelly murdered.
Draft additions September 2006
slang (chiefly Sport). A comprehensive or crushing defeat. Also as a mass noun. Cf. massacre n. 1d.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > winning, losing, or scoring > [noun] > losing or defeat
loss1548
thrashing1797
punishment1811
trouncing1867
gruelling1882
shut-out1889
slaughter1890
nong1903
caning1933
massacre1940
whacking1951
1890 Athens (Ohio) Messenger 17 July 1/1 We did not come out of the last contest very well... It was a slaughter, not only for the head of the ticket, but all along the line.
1938 Boxing 27 Apr. 10/1 The ‘slaughter’ of Steve Dudas..by Maxie Schmeling.
1991 R. Keene Battle of Titans iv. 26/2 The rest is total slaughter.
2004 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 30 Nov. 8 Their main hope was rain, for the fifth-day forecast was dodgy, otherwise Australia were on course to complete the slaughter early today.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
slaughterv.
/ˈslɔːtə/, U.S. /ˈslɔdər/, /ˈslɑdər/ 1. transitive. To kill (cattle, sheep, or other animals), spec. for food.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > killing > killing of animals > kill animal [verb (transitive)]
slayc1000
slaughter1535
kill1560
to bring down1768
bag1814
mop1859
murder1863
beef1869
cull1889
carcass1906
harvest1947
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Isa. xxii. B But they..slaugter oxen, they kyll shepe.
1727 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II. at Diipolia A number of Oxen.., of which if any eat of the Cakes he was slaughtered.
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth III. 165 During the winter, the rein-deer are slaughter'd as sheep with us.
1833 Act 3 & 4 William IV c. 46 §112 It shall not be lawful for any flesher..to slaughter cattle..elsewhere than in the shambles.
1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. I. xxvii. 362 The fire was lit up, and one of our birds slaughtered forthwith.
1890 L. C. D'Oyle Notches Rough Edge Life Introd. p. viii English and Eastern hunters, who came out and slaughtered game by thousands.
2. figurative.1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. ix. 389 The circumstances..were very plausible, if time did not slaughter my goodwill.1845 R. Browning Time's Revenges in Bells & Pomegranates No. VII: Dramatic Romances & Lyrics 5 He slaughters you with savage looks Because you don't admire my books.
a. To kill, slay, murder (a person), esp. in a bloody or brutal manner.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > killing > man-killing or homicide > murder or assassination > murder or assassinate [verb (transitive)]
amurderOE
murderc1175
homicidec1470
murdresc1480
murtrish1490
manquell1548
slaughter1582
massacre1591
assassinate1600
remove1609
assassin1620
to do the business for a person1759
Septembrize1794
croak1823
square1888
shift1898
to take out1900
to bump off1907
bump1914
to do in1914
to put out1917
to knock off1919
terminate1920
to give (a person) the works1929
scrag1930
snuff1932
wash1941
waste1964
wipe1968
to terminate with extreme prejudice1969
neutralize1970
snuff1973
stiff1974
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis i. 4 Wheare lyes strong Hector slaughtred by manful Achilles.
?1592 Trag. Solyman & Perseda v. iv In slaughtering him thy vertues are defamed.
1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 357 The Prince him~selfe hath hardly escaped from being taken or slaughtered.
1746 P. Francis tr. Horace Art of Poetry 268 Let not Medea..Slaughter her mangled Infants on the Stage.
1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan III. 427 She slaughtered our child on the spot.
1865 W. E. H. Lecky Hist. Rationalism (1870) II. 154 They said it was not lawful for a single unauthorised individual to condemn and slaughter the consecrated ruler of the nation.
b. To destroy by excessive felling.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > forestry or arboriculture > lumbering > [verb (transitive)] > fell timber > to excess
slaughter1896
overcut1897
1896 15th Rep. Vermont State Board Agric. 1895–6 85 Our lumber forests are being slaughtered.
1903 S. E. White Blazed Trail Stories 27 Fitzpatrick would not have the pine ‘slaughtered’.
c. To defeat or demolish completely. colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > overcome or defeat > soundly
threshc1384
to knock the socks offa1529
thump1597
thrash1609
thwacka1616
capot1649
to beat to snuff1819
to knock into a cocked hat1830
to —— (the) hell out of1833
sledgehammer1834
rout1835
whop1836
skin1838
whip-saw1842
to knock (the) spots off1850
to make mincemeat of1853
to mop (up) the floor with1875
to beat pointless1877
to lick into fits1879
to take apart1880
to knock out1883
wax1884
contund1885
to give (a person) fits1885
to wipe the floor with1887
flatten1892
to knock (someone) for six1902
slaughter1903
slather1910
to hit for six1937
hammer1948
whomp1952
bulldozer1954
zilch1957
shred1966
tank1973
slam-dunk1975
beast1977
1903 N.Y. Evening Post 5 Oct. 3 McLaughlin's lieutenants are openly declaring that they will ‘slaughter’ the McClellan-Grout-Fornes ticket.
1929 C. E. Merriam Chicago 280 He was hopelessly beaten..in the primaries of 1907; and again slaughtered..in the primaries of 1915.
3. To kill or slay (persons) in large numbers; to massacre.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > killing > slaughter > [verb (transitive)]
to bathe in bloodc1300
murderc1325
to make larder ofa1330
spend1481
to lick upa1500
slaught1535
butcher1562
wipe1577
slaughter1586
massacre1588
dispeople1596
shamble1601
depeople?1611
mow1615
internecate1623
dislaughter1661
mop1899
pogrom1915
decimate1944
overkill1946
1586 W. Warner Æneidos in Albions Eng. sig. Pii Troy is sacked, and her people for the most part slaughtered.
1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iii. 75 What do these Worthies, But rob.., slaughter, and enslave Peaceable Nations. View more context for this quotation
1692 tr. C. de Saint-Évremond Misc. Ess. 69 To know simply how to Slaughter Men..is to excell in a very fatal Science.
1792 A. Young Trav. France 405 Frederic, who attained the title of Great, on account of his superior skill in the arts of slaughtering men.
1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe III. vi. 143 He shall..slaughter the infidels, even heaps upon heaps.
1853 J. H. Newman Hist. Sketches (1873) II. i. iii. 138 The Latins were slaughtered in their own homes and in the streets.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with skins > work with skins [verb (transitive)] > other processes
curry14..
shave1467
dress1511
slaughter1603
raise1607
scutch1688
chamois1728
braya1835
break1842
fellmonger1843
fire-cure1848
crimp1849
board1860
pebble1862
soft-board1878
sam1883
stock1883
nourish1884
buff1885
pinwheel1885
sammy1885
wheel1885
unlime1888
1603–4 Act 1 James I c. 22 §1 No Butcher..shall gash, slaughter, or cut any Hide..in flayinge thereof.
5. figurative. To sell at low prices or at a sacrifice.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > sell [verb (transitive)] > sell at low price
undersell1647
discount1828
slaughter1896
to job off1903
1896 Daily News 9 June 9/6 In that case,..we should have to slaughter our stock and lose our money.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.a1300v.1535- sphinx-lined
- sphinx-look
- sphinx-question
- sphinx-riddle
- sphinxbaboon
- sphinxenigma
- sphinxes
- sphinxface
- sphinxfaced
- sphinxfigure
- sphinxform
- sphinxguarded
- sphinxian
- sphinxily
- sphinxine
- sphinxineness
- sphinxlike
- sphinxlined
- sphinxlook
- sphinxquestion
- sphinxriddle
- sphondyloid
- sphragid
- sphragistes
- sphragistic