pillage

[ pil-ij ]

verb (used with object)

, pil·laged, pil·lag·ing.

1. to strip ruthlessly of money or goods by open violence, as in war; plunder:

   The barbarians pillaged every conquered city.

   Synonyms: rape, despoil, spoil, sack, rob

2. to take as booty.

verb (used without object)

, pil·laged, pil·lag·ing.

1. to rob with open violence; take booty:

   Soldiers roamed the countryside, pillaging and killing.

noun

1. the act of plundering, especially in war.

   Synonyms: spoliation, depredation, rapine

2. booty or spoil.

   Synonyms: plunder

pillage

/ ˈpɪlɪdʒ /

verb

1. to rob (a town, village, etc) of (booty or spoils), esp during a war

noun

1. the act of pillaging
2. something obtained by pillaging; booty

Derived Forms

• ˈpillager, noun

Other Words From

• pillag·er noun
• un·pillaged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pillage¹

1350–1400; Middle English pilage ( pill ³, -age ), modeled on Middle French pillage (derivative of piller to pillage, originally, to abuse, mistreat, tear, of uncertain origin)

Word History and Origins

Origin of pillage¹

C14: via Old French from piller to despoil, probably from peille rag, from Latin pīleus felt cap

Related Words

• desecrate
• loot
• maraud
• pilfer
• ransack
• ravage