from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Despoil \De*spoil"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Despoiled}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Despoiling}.] [OF. despoiller, F. d['e]pouiller, 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.
[1913 Webster]
2. To deprive for spoil; to plunder; to rob; to pillage; to
strip; to divest; -- usually followed by of.
[1913 Webster]
The clothed earth is then bare,
Despoiled is the summer fair. --Gower.
[1913 Webster]
A law which restored to them an immense domain of
which they had been despoiled. --Macaulay.
[1913 Webster]
Despoiled of innocence, of faith, of bliss.
--Milton.
Syn: To strip; deprive; rob; bereave; rifle.
[1913 Webster]