JW>  It's actually spelled abattoir. And it's not a commonly used word; it's
 JW>  not in my "pocket" dictionary either, just my bigger one.

Spelled the right way it showed in my dictionary as a slaughterhouse.

 BF>> Isn't it a English word? Sounds French to me.

 JW> It's a French word the English borrowed. English is really a mixed
 JW> language. Most words have Anglo-Saxon roots but abattoir and butcher (from
 JW> "bouchier") are Norman French and slaughter is a Viking word.

Viking word? Had the Vikings really somethimg to do with this?

//Bj”rn

---