Massacre
/ˈmæs.ə.kər/noun
The killing of many people or animals, especially in a brutal or indiscriminate way.
Did you know?The word came into English through Old French in the 16th century, and early uses often meant a slaughter of people or animals rather than the broader modern sense.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Late Latin
macellum
“A slaughterhouse or meat market”
Old French
OF
massacre
“Slaughter; butchery”
16th Century
English
massacre
“The killing of many people or animals in a brutal slaughter”
Modern English
English
massacre
“A large-scale killing, especially one that is brutal or indiscriminate”