1.
2.
[syn: bloodbath, bloodletting, bloodshed, battue]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Battue \Bat"tue`\, n. [F. battue, fr. battre to beat. See
Batter, v. t., and cf. Battuta.] (Hunting)
(a) The act of beating the woods, bushes, etc., for game.
(b) The game itself.
(c) The wanton slaughter of game. --Howitt.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
battue
n 1: a hunt in which beaters force the game to flee in the
direction of the hunter
2: indiscriminate slaughter; "a bloodbath took place when the
leaders of the plot surrendered"; "ten days after the
bloodletting Hitler gave the action its name"; "the valley is
no stranger to bloodshed and murder"; "a huge prison battue
was ordered" [syn: bloodbath, bloodletting, bloodshed,
battue]