demothball

[ dee-mawth-bawl, -moth- ]

verb (used with object)

1. to remove (naval or military equipment) from storage or reserve, usually for active duty; reactivate.

Word History and Origins

Origin of demothball¹

de- + mothball

Example Sentences

Around a T-shaped table in the office of Interior Secretary Fred Seaton, 25 representatives of 15 major oil companies met last week to demothball a tool left over from Suez.

From Time Magazine Archive