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Definition of abattoir

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ab·at·toir  audio  (b-twär) KEY  

NOUN:
  1. A slaughterhouse.
  2. Something likened to a slaughterhouse: "The hand of God and mankind's self-inflicted blows seem equally heavy ... giving a strong cumulative impression of the world as an abattoir" (Manchester Guardian Weekly).
ETYMOLOGY:
French, from abattre, to strike down, from Old French ; see abate


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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.
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