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defoliate (v.)
"deprive of leaves, strip the leaves from," 1793, perhaps a back-formation from defoliation. Earlier in this sense was defoil (c. 1600), which was identical in form with a verb meaning "to trample underfoot." Related: Defoliated; defoliating.
Entries linking to defoliate
defoliation (n.)
1650s, "loss of leaves," noun of action from past-participle stem of Late Latin defoliare "shed leaves," from de (see de-) + folium "leaf" (from PIE root *bhel- (3) "to thrive, bloom"). Often especially of the fall of leaves in autumn. Meaning "deliberate destruction of foliage" (for military purposes) is from 1964.
updated on July 12, 2018
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Dictionary entries near defoliate
deflection
defloration
deflower
defogger
defoliant
defoliate
defoliation
deforest
deforestation
deform
deformation
