Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Despoil \De*spoil"\, n.
   Spoil. [Obs.] --Wolsey.

Despoil \De*spoil"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Despoiled}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Despoiling}.] [OF. despoiller, F. d['e]pouiller, L.
   despoliare, despoliatum; de- + spoliare to strip, rob,
   spolium spoil, booty. Cf. {Spoil}, {Despoliation}.]
   1. To strip, as of clothing; to divest or unclothe. [Obs.]
      --Chaucer.

   2. To deprive for spoil; to plunder; to rob; to pillage; to
      strip; to divest; -- usually followed by of.

            The clothed earth is then bare, Despoiled is the
            summer fair.                          --Gower.

            A law which restored to them an immense domain of
            which they had been despoiled.        --Macaulay.

            Despoiled of innocence, of faith, of bliss.
                                                  --Milton.

   Syn: To strip; deprive; rob; bereave; rifle.

Source : WordNet®

despoil
     v 1: steal goods; take as spoils; "During the earthquake people
          looted the stores that were deserted by their owners"
          [syn: {plunder}, {loot}, {reave}, {strip}, {rifle}, {ransack},
           {pillage}, {foray}]
     2: destroy and strip of its possession; "The soldiers raped the
        beautiful country" [syn: {rape}, {spoil}, {violate}, {plunder}]