abattoir
nounUK /ˈæb.əˌtwɑː(ɹ)/ · US /ˈæb.əˌtwɑɹ/
Etymology Borrowed from French abattoir, from abattre (“to slaughter”) (cognate to abate) + -oir (“-ory”).
1
A public slaughterhouse for cattle, sheep, etc.
- Once the cows reach maturity, they're sent to the abattoir.
2
A place or event likened to a slaughterhouse, because of great carnage or bloodshed.
- The army's raid on the enemy turned into a major abattoir.
- The corridors where North Korean troops would be advancing [in a hypothetical invasion of South Korea] would almost certainly be turned into human abattoirs.2017 April 19, Franz-Stefan Gady, “What Would the Second Korean War Look Like?”, in The Diplomat:
1 more example
- “Now, down here we have the medium security cells and the various abattoirs. Be sure to reserve your spot on the sign-in sheet 'cause the abattoirs get crazy busy.”2021 September 2, Sam Johnson & Chris Marcil, “The Cloak of Duplication” (1:58 from the start), in What We Do in the Shadows, season 3, episode 2, spoken by The Guide (Kristen Schaal):
- Derived terms
- abattoirlike
- Related terms
- knacker's yard