Butch"er*y (&?;), n. [OE. bocherie shambles, fr. F. boucherie. See Butcher, n.] 1. The business of a butcher. [Obs.]

2. Murder or manslaughter, esp. when committed with unusual barbarity; great or cruel slaughter. Shak.

The perpetration of human butchery.
Prescott.

3. A slaughterhouse; the shambles; a place where blood is shed. [Obs.]

Like as an ox is hanged in the butchery.
Fabyan.

Syn. -- Murder; slaughter; carnage. See Massacre.