bestrip

English

Etymology

From Middle English bestrepen, from Old English bestrȳpan (“to strip, rob, plunder”), equivalent to be- (“off, away”) +‎ strip.

Verb

bestrip (third-person singular simple present bestrips, present participle bestripping, simple past and past participle bestripped)

1. (transitive, archaic) To strip away, remove; strip, undress; deprive.
   • 1866, Laurent (Dominican), Dan Michel's Ayenbite of inwyt: Text, page 144:

     It bestrips the root of envy from the heart.

   • 1870, Robert Leighton (abp. of Glasgow.), William West (of Nairn), The Works of Robert Leighton, D.D.:

     There are some souls that trust in God and have an inclination that way, yet they would piece it out with other things, and are loath to bestrip themselves of all other stays and props.

   • 1917, Journal of the Outdoor Life, volume 14, page 199:

     O take away my Worth gowns, ma,
     Bestrip me from head to toe— […]