SLAUGHTER, noun slaw'ter [See Slay.] 1. In a general sense, a killing. Applied to men, slaughter usually denotes great destruction of life by violent means; as the slaughter of men in battle. 2. Applied to beasts, butchery; a killing of oxen or other beasts for market. SLAUGHTER, verb transitive slaw'ter. 1. To kill; to slay; to make great destruction of life; as , to slaughter men in battle. 2. To butcher; to kill for the market; as beasts.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI