The killing of many people or animals in a violent or cruel way. It is also used for the killing of animals for meat.
“Slaughter” comes from Old Norse “slátr,” meaning “butcher’s meat.” It entered English through Viking influence and grew into the verb and noun we use today. The word kept a strong association with bloody killing.
“Slaughter” is one of those words whose sound matches its weight—heavy, slow, and brutal. Interestingly, its cousin “laughter” looks similar but is completely unrelated. That visual similarity sometimes makes the word feel even more disturbing.
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