I. ˈspȯi(-ə)l noun
Etymology: Middle English spoile, from Anglo-French espuille, from espuiller
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : plunder taken from an enemy in war or from a victim in robbery : loot
b. : public offices made the property of a successful party — usually used in plural
c. : something valuable or desirable gained through special effort or opportunism or in return for a favor — usually used in plural
2.
a. : spoliation , plundering
b. : the act of damaging : harm , impairment
3. : an object of plundering : prey
4. : earth and rock excavated or dredged
5. : an object damaged or flawed in the making
Synonyms:
spoil , plunder , booty , prize , loot mean something taken from another by force or craft. spoil , more commonly spoils, applies to what belongs by right or custom to the victor in war or political contest
the spoils of political victory
plunder applies to what is taken not only in war but in robbery, banditry, grafting, or swindling
a bootlegger's plunder
booty implies plunder to be shared among confederates
thieves dividing up their booty
prize applies to spoils captured on the high seas or territorial waters of the enemy
the wartime right of seizing prizes at sea
loot applies especially to what is taken from victims of a catastrophe
picked through the ruins for loot
II. verb
( spoiled ˈspȯi(-ə)ld, ˈspȯi(-ə)lt ; also spoilt ˈspȯi(-ə)lt ; spoil·ing )
Etymology: Middle English, from espuiller, espoiller, from Latin spoliare to strip of natural covering, despoil, from spolium skin, hide — more at spill
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1.
a. archaic : despoil , strip
b. : pillage , rob
2. archaic : to seize by force
3.
a. : to damage seriously : ruin
b. : to impair the quality or effect of
a quarrel spoil ed the celebration
4.
a. : to impair the disposition or character of by overindulgence or excessive praise
b. : to pamper excessively : coddle
intransitive verb
1. : to practice plunder and robbery
2. : to lose valuable or useful qualities usually as a result of decay
the fruit spoil ed
3. : to have an eager desire
spoil ing for a fight
Synonyms: see decay , indulge
• spoil·able ˈspȯi-lə-bəl adjective