Abattoir.
An 8 letter word. Abattoir is often linked to the word
slaughterhouse. A slaughterhouse; a place where animals are
killed for food. However it can have several more meanings when
dissected.
“Abatt” the beginning of abattoir.
Coming from “abate”. “Abate” comes from the Anglo-norman and
old french word “abatre.” There is also the middle french
variation “abattre.” Over time “abatre” has meant several
different things. In 1100, “abatre” meant to knock down, to raze,
or to dismantle. In 1155, “abatre” meant to cut down, but only in
reference to people. It was applied to trees much earlier in the 13th
century. Also, in 1155, it could mean to over throw a king. In the
late 12th century it meant to slay or kill. Later on in that century,
it's meaning was to curb someone's power. Later, in 1230 it meant to
remove currency from circulation. In 1256, it meant to reduce or
lessen. In 1268, “abatre” was defined as conquering. 1270 or
later, it was meant as a means to bring down someone physically or
mentally. In around 1285 “abatre” meant to impoverish someone.
In law, “abatre” meant something
quite different. In, 1292 it meant to annul or to become null. One of
the least common terms is from the early 13th century where “abatre”
means to clip someone's coins. Also, a less common definition is that
it means to discontinue and to reduce the price of value of
something. Some more common definition’s are: to stop, to put an
end to, to discourage, to suppress, to take down, and to beat down.
A word that is slightly similar to
“abatre” is “rabattre” which means to execute a horse so that
both back legs fall to the ground simultaneously. This is quite
strongly relate to the fact that the whole word, the word “abattoir”
is a place where animals are killed.
The word “abattoir” can also be
used in a non-animal related context. For example, “an abattoir of
words”, meaning that it is a slaughtering of words, a destruction
of words. This expression, if you will, may be used to describe a
poorly written text. This is quite interesting, because the
combination the syllables in french role of the tongue quite nicely.
The word abattoir is not an abattoir of letters, it is quite elegant.
However, the word abattoir means destruction, massacre and beating.
It is strange to have such a beautiful word mean something so ugly.
1. Oxford
English Dictionary, “abate, v.1”
http://www.oed.com.proxy.lib.uwaterloo.ca/view/Entry/122#eid36012229
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