peel

UK: piːl | US: piːl

Definition
  1. vt. to remove the outer covering of a fruit, vegetable, etc.

  2. n. the outer skin or rind of a fruit or vegetable

  3. vi. (of a surface) to lose its outer layer in strips or flakes

Structure
peel <to strip off>
Etymology

The word "peel" traces back to Old French peler (to remove the outer layer), derived from Latin pilare (to strip hair), from pilus (hair). The semantic shift from "hair" to "outer layer" reflects the idea of removing a thin covering. Over time, it retained its core meaning of stripping or shedding a surface layer, applied broadly to fruits, vegetables, or even paint.

Examples
  1. She carefully peeled the apple before slicing it.

  2. The label on the jar began to peel after getting wet.

  3. Sunburn can cause your skin to peel.

  4. He piled the orange peels into the compost bin.

  5. The old wallpaper was peeling off the walls.