spoil

Definition

To strip (someone who has been killed or defeated) of arms or armour.

Etymology

From Middle English spoilen, spuylen, borrowed from Old French espoillier, espollier, espuler, from Latin spoliāre (“pillage, ruin, spoil”).

Example Sentences

• "All that herde hym wer amased and sayde: ys nott this he that spoylled them whych called on this name in Jerusalem?"
• "To do her dye (quoth Vna) were despight, / And shame t'auenge so weake an enimy; / But spoile her of her scarlot robe, and let her fly."
• "Roger, that rich Bishop of Salisbury,[…]spoiled of his goods by King Stephen, […]through grief ran mad, spoke and did he knew not what."

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