I. ˈpēl verb
Etymology: Middle English pelen, from Anglo-French peler, from Latin pilare to remove the hair from, from pilus hair
Date: 13th century
transitive verb
1. : to strip off an outer layer of
peel an orange
2. : to remove by stripping
peel the label off the can
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to come off in sheets or scales
b. : to lose an outer layer (as of skin)
his face is peel ing
2. : to take off one's clothes
3. : to break away from a group or formation — often used with off
• peel·able ˈpē-lə-bəl adjective
II. noun
Date: 14th century
1. : the skin or rind of a fruit
2. : a thin layer of organic material that is embedded in a film of collodion and stripped from the surface of an object (as a plant fossil) for microscopic study
3. : chemical peel
III. noun
Etymology: Middle English pele, from Anglo-French, from Latin pala
Date: 14th century
: a usually long-handled spade-shaped instrument that is used chiefly by bakers for getting something (as bread or pies) into or out of the oven
IV. noun
Etymology: Middle English (Scots) pel, from Middle English, stockade, stake, from Anglo-French, stake, from Latin palus — more at pole
Date: 1726
: a medieval small massive fortified tower along the Scottish-English border — called also peel tower