bloodshed, n. (a.)
(ˈblʌdʃɛd)
[f. the phrase to shed blood.]
1. The spilling or shedding of blood; slaughter.
| 1536–40 Pilgrim's T. 396 in Thynne Animadv. App. 88 For by bloud-shed they hop to be kepyd in stall. 1541 Act 33 Hen. VIII, xii. (title), An acte for mourder and malicious bloudshed within the courte. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 139 ¶7 He took the French Lines without Bloodshed. 1876 Green Short Hist. vi. §3 (1882) 295 The accession of Henry the Seventh ended the long bloodshed of the Civil Wars. |
† 2. A single act of bloodshedding, a slaughter, a murder. (With
pl.)
Obs.| 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. iv. (1617) 167 Mutuall combustions, bloud-sheds and wastes. 1620 J. Wilkinson Coroners & Sherifes 67 A sherife may inquire of blood-sheddes in his turne. 1677 Hale Prim. Orig. Man. ii. x. 226 The violent bloodsheds of the Papists upon the Protestants. |
† 3. The shedding or parting with one's own blood;
orig. said of the death of Christ, who in voluntarily submitting to death is said to have ‘shed his blood’ for the salvation of men. ?
Obs.| ? a 1500 Chester Pl. i. (1843) 6 His scourginge, his whippinge, his bloude shedd and passion. 1587 Golding De Mornay xxxii. 513 The countries are conquered to Jesus Christ by those fewe Disciples preaching his bloudshed and shedding their owne. 1869 Blackmore Lorna D. ii. (ed. 12) 10 He came up to me—with a piece of spongious coralline to ease me of my bloodshed. |
† 4. = blood-shot n. and adj. Obs.| 1684 tr. Bonet's Merc. Compit. iii. 68 Who..hath not suffered the least Taraxis (or Bloud-shed) in his Eye. 1702 Lond. Gaz. No. 3853/4 Had a little Bloodshed in the inside Corner of his right Eye. |
| 1658 A. Fox Wurtz' Surg. ii. ix. 82, I undertake to heal..wounded Eyes and eye-lids, though they be never so much bloudshed. 1697 Lond. Gaz. No. 3254/4 Light grey Eyes often Bloodshed. |