Butcher's was Cockney rhyming slang, used in constructions like "'ave a butcher's at this", which meant "to take a look" at something. In a Cornish churchyard, Ben once told Polly to "'ave a butcher's" at a grave from 1592. (TV: The Smugglers)
Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]
The implied rhyme is between look and "a butcher's hook". But as with most rhyming slang, the word that rhymes is dropped in preference for the one that doesn't.