De*spoil" (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Despoiled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Despoiling.] [OF. despoiller, F.
dépouiller, L. despoliare, despoliatum;
de- + spoliare to strip, rob, spolium spoil,
booty. Cf. Spoil, Despoliation.] 1.
To strip, as of clothing; to divest or unclothe. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
2. To deprive for spoil; to plunder; to rob;
to pillage; to strip; to divest; -- usually followed by
of.
The clothed earth is then bare,
Despoiled is the summer fair.
Gower.
A law which restored to them an immense domain of
which they had been despoiled.
Macaulay.
Despoiled of innocence, of faith, of
bliss.
Milton.
Syn. -- To strip; deprive; rob; bereave; rifle.
De*spoil", n. Spoil. [Obs.]
Wolsey.
