n.1 a plunder or pillage, esp. of neutral vessels in war. b extortion.
2 Eccl. the taking of the fruits of a benefice under a pretended title etc.
3 Law the destruction, mutilation, or alteration, of a document to prevent its being used as evidence.
Derivatives:
spoliator n. spoliatory adj.
Etymology: ME f. L spoliatio (as SPOIL)