— bowdlerism , n. — bowdlerization , n. — bowdlerizer , n.
/bohd"leuh ruyz', bowd"-/ , v.t., bowdlerized, bowdlerizing .
to expurgate (a written work) by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable.
Also, esp. Brit., bowdlerise .
[ 1830-40; after Thomas Bowdler (1754-1825), English editor of an expurgated edition of Shakespeare ]