— pillager , n.
/pil"ij/ , v. , pillaged, pillaging , n.
v.t.
1. to strip ruthlessly of money or goods by open violence, as in war; plunder: The barbarians pillaged every conquered city.
2. to take as booty.
v.i.
3. to rob with open violence; take booty: Soldiers roamed the countryside, pillaging and killing.
n.
4. the act of plundering, esp. in war.
5. booty or spoil.
[ 1350-1400; ME pilage (see PILL 3 , -AGE), modeled on MF pillage (deriv. of piller to pillage, orig., to abuse, mistreat, tear, of uncert. orig.) ]
Syn. 1. rob, sack, spoil, despoil, rape. 4. rapine, depredation, spoliation. 5. plunder.