1. (

• bloodshed ,
• gore

) the shedding of blood resulting in murder; "he avenged the bloodshed of his kinsmen" ;

2. (

• bloodbath ,
• bloodletting ,
• bloodshed ,
• battue ,

) 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" ;