defloration (n.)
late 14c., defloracioun, "culling of the finest passages from books," from Old French desfloracion (14c.) and directly from Latin deflorationem (nominative defloratio) "plucking of flowers," also "taking of (a woman's) virginity," noun of action from past-participle stem of deflorare (see deflower). Compare also anthology. As "act of depriving (a woman) of virginity" is from early 15c.
Entries linking to defloration
late 14c., deflouren, "deprive (a maiden) of her virginity," also "excerpt the best parts of (a book)," from Old French desflorer (13c., Modern French déflorer) "to deflower (a garden); to take the virginity of" and directly from Late Latin deflorare, from de- (see de-) + flos "flower" (from PIE root *bhel- (3) "to thrive, bloom"). Sense of "despoil of beauty or grace" is from late 15c. The notion is "to strip of flowers," or of the quality or character of a flower, thus "to ravish."
The French Indians are said not to have deflowered any of our young women they captivated. [James Adair, "The Life of an Indian Trader," London, 1775]
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Dictionary entries near defloration
deflagration
deflate
deflation
deflect
deflection
defloration
deflower
defogger
defoliant
defoliate
defoliation
