Peel (?), n. [OE. pel. Cf. Pile a heap.]
A small tower, fort, or castle; a keep.
[Scot.]
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Peel, n. [F. pelle, L. pala.]
A spadelike implement, variously used, as for removing loaves of bread from a baker's oven; also, a T-shaped implement used by printers and bookbinders for hanging wet sheets of paper on lines or poles to dry. Also, the blade of an oar.
© Webster 1913.
Peel, v. t. [Confused with peel to strip, but fr. F. piller to pillage. See Pill to rob, Pillage.]
To plunder; to pillage; to rob.
[Obs.]
But govern ill the nations under yoke,
Peeling their provinces.
Milton.
© Webster 1913.
Peel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Peeled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Peeling.] [F. peler to pull out the hair, to strip, to peel, fr. L. pilare to deprive of hair, fr. pilus a hair; or perh. partly fr. F. peler to peel off the skin, perh. fr. L. pellis skin (cf. Fell skin). Cf. Peruke.]
1.
To strip off the skin, bark, or rind of; to strip by drawing or tearing off the skin, bark, husks, etc.; to flay; to decorticate; as, to peel an orange.
The skillful shepherd peeled me certain wands.
Shak.
2.
To strip or tear off; to remove by stripping, as the skin of an animal, the bark of a tree, etc.
© Webster 1913.
Peel, v. i.
To lose the skin, bark, or rind; to come off, as the skin, bark, or rind does; -- often used with an adverb; as, the bark peels easily or readily.
© Webster 1913.
Peel, n.
The skin or rind; as, the peel of an orange.
© Webster 1913.