Could you help me find the origin of "butcher's bill"?

I couldn't find a direct etymology, but this comment, if not apocryphal, is suggestive:

The Butcher's Bill That's what Ulysses S. Grant -- a tanner's son who knew his business -- used to call it

Hi!

Could you please explain the meaning of that phrase? I've never heard it before.

Lucrezia

it means "death toll"

eg: a steep bucher's bill = a high death toll

btw: Did I get it?

It's from people being butchered/slaughtered in wars, and the cost (bill - number of casualties) being shown to those sending them there.

Thanks!

I think it's a figure of speech.

"a butcher" is like "a war", and "a bill" is like "a cost or casualties"

Just my 2 cents;-)

its a (simily)/not sure of spelling /. if that answers any questions. a butcher" is like "a war", and "a bill" is like "a cost or casualties"

raiden005

I've heard that this term was first used by Admiral Nelson when, after battles, he would ask his aides, "What's the butcher's bill?", meaning how many lost and wounded.

This expression being "a la Lord Nelson" is indeed mentioned in several references.

It seems to be sailors' speak.
Not sure if Nelson was the first to have used it, but he might have been.

I've been looking into this myself, and though I can't find anything 'official' (seems we are the only ones interested, apparently). It would seem that the term comes from the literal meaning. In the day a butcher's bill would consist of the types of cuts, portions and other services typically performed by a butcher. I can't find the initial point when it was used, but it was popular with police

Yes apparently the origin is from the Napoleonic Wars a la Lord Nelson. Referred to in And the Band Played On when referring to the number dead in the early days of the AIDS epidemic.