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Where does the word "massacre" come from? It comes from Vulgar Latin macellum, passing through Old French before entering English (1580s).
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Where does the word "massacre" come from? It comes from Vulgar Latin macellum, passing through Old French before entering English (1580s).
Massacre’s story begins in Vulgar Latin: macellum meant “meat market.” Possibly from 'macellarius', butcher. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as macecre. A butchery or shambles. It reached English by 1580s as massacre. The St Bartholomew's Day Massacre of 1572 spread it. Today, massacre means the brutal killing of many people.
- Stage 1 · Vulgar Latin · ancient macellum "meat market", possibly from 'macellarius', butcher.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval macecre "slaughterhouse", a butchery or shambles.
- Stage 3 · English · 1580s massacre "slaughter", the St Bartholomew's Day Massacre of 1572 spread it.