( BrE also bowd·ler·ise ) / ˈbaʊdləraɪz; NAmE / verb
[ vn ] (usually disapproving ) to remove the parts of a book, play, etc. that you think are likely to shock or offend people
SYN expurgate
ORIGIN: Named after Dr Thomas Bowdler , who in 1818 produced a version of Shakespeare from which he had taken out all the material which he considered not suitable for family use.