(n.) The act or process of letting blood or bleeding, as by opening a vein or artery, or by cupping or leeches; -- esp. applied to venesection.

aspiration bane bleeding blood bloodshed braining broaching cupping dealing death destruction destruction of life dispatch drafting drainage draining drawing emptying euthanasia execution extermination flow of blood gore immolation kill killing lapidation leeching martyrdom martyrization mercy killing milking phlebotomy pipetting poisoning pumping ritual killing ritual murder sacrifice shooting siphoning slaughter slaying stoning sucking suction taking of life tapping venesection