Webster's English Dictionary

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butcher

1. butch.er \'bu.ch-*r\ n [ME bocher, fr. OF bouchier, fr. bouc he-goat, 
   prob. of Celt]origin; akin to MIr bocc he-goat - more at BUCK 1a: one who 
   slaughters animals or dresses their flesh  1b: a dealer in meat  2: one 
   that kills ruthlessly or brutally  3: BOTCHER  4: a vendor esp. on trains 
   or in theaters 
2. butcher \-(*-)rin\ \-*r-*r\ vt or butch.er.ing 1: to slaughter and dress 
   for market {~ hogs}  2: to kill in a barbarous manner  3: BOTCH  - 
   butch.er.er n