Butcher \Butch"er\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Butchered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Butchering}.] 1. To kill or slaughter (animals) for food, or for market; as, to butcher hogs. 2. To murder, or kill, especially in an unusually bloody or barbarous manner. --Macaulay. [Ithocles] was murdered, rather butchered. --Ford.