peel

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To remove the skin or outer covering from a fruit or vegetable.

   I sat by my sister's bed, peeling oranges for her.

2. 2
   verb

   To come off in thin pieces, or to lose an outer layer in flakes.

   I had been out in the sun too long, and my nose was starting to peel.

From Middle English pelen, from Old English pilian and Old French peler, pellier; both from Latin pilō, pilāre (“to remove hair from, depilate”), from pilus (“hair”). Doublet of pill.

Topics