'slaughterhouse' originates from Middle English, specifically the words 'slaughter' and 'house', where 'slaughter' meant 'killing' and 'house' meant 'building'.

'slaughter' changed from the Old Norse word 'slátr' meaning 'butchered meat', and 'house' from Old English 'hūs', eventually becoming the modern English word 'slaughterhouse'.

Initially, it meant 'a place for killing animals', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.