ungarnish

present singular third person ungarnishes · participle present ungarnishing · participle past ungarnished · past ungarnished

1. To remove military support from

   He told off the two columns as directed, only cutting down their strength a little, so as not wholly to ungarnish Barcelona.

   1995, Charles Oman, A History of the Peninsular War - Volume 1, page 309

   3 more examples

   His first movement, which, by alarming Villeroy for his left, led him to ungarnish his centre and right, contributed essentially to the success of the day.

   1820 September, “Memoirs of John, Duke of Marlborough”, in The Analectic Magazine, volume 2, number 3, page 218

   Should the King of Ava, who conceives his armies to be irresistible, at the same moment invade Chittagong, the opposing those attacks at the two extremities of our empire must ungarnish our prodigiously extended flanks.

   1858, Francis Rawdon-Hastings Marquess of Hastings, Sophia Frederica Christina Rawdon-Hastings Crichton-Stuart Marchioness of Bute, The Private Journal of the Marquess of Hastings, page 45

   Gattes and Lyncoln their superiority and his want of Artillery leave no hopes of succeeding untill he receives new reinforcements which he was about sending for to New York tho' at the risk of ungarnishing that place.

   1899, Rhode Island Historical Society, Publications, page 263

2. To strip of ornaments.

   M. D'Anjou and M. D'Aumale have sent for money, which is so scant that they are forced to sell their church plate and ungarnish their relics.

   1874, Great Britain. Public Record Office, Calendar of State Papers, page 29

   1 more example

   Moreover if her members be filled with the Holy Ghost, how reach she forth that holy member of her hand, this to even fetch a garment that ungarnishes the temple holy in the first place?

   2015, Ravens Station Steward