Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BUTCH'ER-Y, n.

1. The business of slaughtering cattle for the table or for market. – Pope.
2. Murder, especially murder committed with unusual barbarity; great slaughter. – Shak. Dryden.
3. The place where animals are killed for market; a shambles, or slaughter house; also, a place where blood is shed. – Shak.