demembration

noun

de·​mem·​bra·​tion

¦dē(ˌ)memˈbrāshən

plural -s

Scots law

: the crime of maliciously severing a limb from the body of a person

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin demembration-, demembratio, from Late Latin demembratus (past participle of demembrare to dismember, from de- of + membrum limb) + -ion-, -io -ion

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