I. ˈbu̇-chər noun
Etymology: Middle English bocher, from Anglo-French, from buc he-goat, probably of Celtic origin; akin to Middle Irish bocc he-goat — more at buck
Date: 13th century
1.
a. : a person who slaughters animals or dresses their flesh
b. : a dealer in meat
2. : one that kills ruthlessly or brutally
3. : one that bungles or botches
4. : a vendor especially on trains or in theaters
II. transitive verb
( butch·ered ; butch·er·ing ˈbu̇ch-riŋ, ˈbu̇-chə-)
Date: 1562
1. : to slaughter and dress for market
butcher hogs
2. : to kill in a barbarous manner
3. : botch
butcher ed the play