Slaugh"ter (?), n. [OE. slautir, slaughter, slaghter, Icel. slātr 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.

(b) The act of killing cattle or other beasts for market.

Syn. -- Carnage; massacre; butchery; murder; havoc.

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.

2. To butcher; to kill for the market, as beasts.

Slaugh"ter (?), n. [OE. slautir, slaughter, slaghter, Icel. slātr 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.

(b) The act of killing cattle or other beasts for market.

Syn. -- Carnage; massacre; butchery; murder; havoc.

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.

2. To butcher; to kill for the market, as beasts.

• the killing of animals, generally for food
  
• a massacre; the killing of a large number of people
  
• a rout or decisive defeat
  
• to butcher animals, generally for food
  
• to massacre people in large numbers
  
• to kill in a particularly brutal manner