- slaughter (n.)
- c.1300, "killing of a cattle or sheep for food, killing of a person," from Old Norse *slahtr, akin to slatr "a butchering, butcher meat," slatra "to slaughter," and slattr "a mowing;" related to sla "to strike" (see slay), from Proto-Germanic *slukhtis. Meaning "killing of a large number of persons in battle" is attested from mid-14c.
- slaughter (v.)
- 1530s, from slaughter (n.). Related: Slaughtered; slaughtering.