Etymology Map
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Butcher

3 stages from Old French to English.

Today it means a person who cuts and sells meat; to kill brutally or ruin

Where does the word "butcher" come from? It comes from Old French bouc, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
bouc
Old French · medieval
"male goat"
a he-goat, from a Germanic or Celtic word related to 'buck'
2
Stage 2 of 3
bochier
Old French · medieval
"goat-slaughterer"
originally one who slaughtered goats, then any meat-seller
3
Stage 3 of 3
butcher
English · 1200s
"a meat-seller"
the verb 'to butcher', to botch or massacre, followed in the 1500s
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Read the full story

Butcher’s story begins in Old French: bouc meant “male goat.” A he-goat, from a Germanic or Celtic word related to 'buck'. Within Old French, it grew into bochier by medieval. Originally one who slaughtered goats, then any meat-seller. It reached English by 1200s as butcher. The verb 'to butcher', to botch or massacre, followed in the 1500s. Today, butcher means a person who cuts and sells meat; to kill brutally or ruin.