from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Peel \Peel\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Peeled} (p[=e]ld); p. pr. &
vb. n. {Peeling}.] [F. peler to pull out the hair, to strip,
to peel, fr. L. pilare to deprive of hair, fr. pilus a hair;
or perh. partly fr. F. peler to peel off the skin, perh. fr.
L. pellis skin (cf. {Fell} skin). Cf. {Peruke}.]
1. To strip off the skin, bark, or rind of; to strip by
drawing or tearing off the skin, bark, husks, etc.; to
flay; to decorticate; as, to peel an orange.
[1913 Webster]
The skillful shepherd peeled me certain wands.
--Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. To strip or tear off; to remove by stripping, as the skin
of an animal, the bark of a tree, etc.
[1913 Webster]