1680s, "unfasten, disunite" (transitive), especially "separate for a special purpose or service," from French détacher "to detach, untie," from Old French destachier, from des- "apart" (see des-) + attachier "attach" (see attach). Related: Detached; detaching.
detach the skin from the chicken before you eat it
detach a regiment
His retina detached and he had to be rushed into surgery
destructible
destruction
destructive
desuetude
desultory
detach
detachable
detachment
detail
detain
detainee
