peel

I. verb Etymology: Middle English pelen, from Anglo-French peler, from Latin pilare to remove the hair from, from pilus hair Date: 13th century transitive verb 1. to strip off an outer layer of <

peel an orange

> 2. to remove by stripping <

peel the label off the can

> intransitive verb 1. a. to come off in sheets or scales b. to lose an outer layer (as of skin) <

his face is peeling

> 2. to take off one's clothes 3. to break away from a group or formation — often used with off • peelable adjective II. noun Date: 14th century 1. the skin or rind of a fruit 2. a thin layer of organic material that is embedded in a film of collodion and stripped from the surface of an object (as a plant fossil) for microscopic study 3. chemical peel III. noun Etymology: Middle English pele, from Anglo-French, from Latin pala Date: 14th century a usually long-handled spade-shaped instrument that is used chiefly by bakers for getting something (as bread or pies) into or out of the oven IV. noun Etymology: Middle English (Scots) pel, from Middle English, stockade, stake, from Anglo-French, stake, from Latin palus — more at pole Date: 1726 a medieval small massive fortified tower along the Scottish-English border — called also peel tower