1. (

• bloodletting

) formerly used as a treatment to reduce excess blood (one of the four humors of medieval medicine) ;

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" ;