bloodletting
verb
Definitions
To bleed; let blood; phlebotomise.
noun
Definitions
The archaic practice of treating illness by removing some blood, believed to be tainted, from the stricken person.
Synonyms:bleeding(by extension) The diminishment of any resource with the hope that this will lead to a positive effect.
Example: Yet another round of corporate bloodletting.
A circumstance, such as a battle, where a large amount of blood is likely to be spilled through violence.