DECIMATION

decimation  (des-<<schwa>>-may-sh<<schwa>>n).1.  A major  destruction  of  people; a  great

loss of life. 2.Hist. A tithing; a payment of the tenth part. 3.Hist. A punishment, esp. by death, of

every  tenth  person  by  lot.  •  Under  Roman  law,  decimatio  referred  to  the  punishment  by  lot  of

every tenth soldier in a legion for mutiny or cowardice. [Blacks Law 8th]