An abattoir is a building where animals are killed so their meat can be sold. Many people call the same place a slaughterhouse. Abattoir sounds a little more official, and a little more British; you will see it on signs, in the news, and in writing about farms and food. It is a work-word, not a kitchen-word: you buy meat at the market, but the killing happens at the abattoir, often outside town. Some speakers avoid the word because they do not like to name that part. Though actually, the French root is the same “knock down” idea as in abate — here the thing knocked down is an animal.

屠宰場