"characterized by slaughter," 1625, possibly from Fr. sanguinaire, or directly from L. sanguinarius "pertaining to blood," from sanguis (gen. sanguinis) "blood," of unknown origin. L. distinguished sanguis, the generic word, from cruor "blood from a wound." The latter word is related to Gk. kreas "meat," Skt. kravis- "raw flesh," O.E. hreaw- "raw" (see raw).