peel-off

[peel-awf, -of] /ˈpilˌɔf, -ˌɒf/
adjective
1.
designed to be peeled off from a backing or large sheet, usually of paper, before use; readied for use by peeling off:
peel-off labels.
Origin
1935-40; adj. use of verb phrase peel off

peel1

[peel] /pil/
verb (used with object)
1.
to strip (something) of its skin, rind, bark, etc.:
to peel an orange.
2.
to strip (the skin, rind, bark, paint, etc.) from something:
to peel paint from a car.
3.
Croquet. to cause (another player's ball) to go through a wicket.
verb (used without object)
4.
(of skin, bark, paint, etc.) to come off; become separated.
5.
to lose the skin, rind, bark, paint, etc.
6.
Informal. to undress.
7.
Metallurgy. (of a malleable iron casting) to lose, or tend to lose, the outer layer.
noun
8.
the skin or rind of a fruit, vegetable, etc.
9.
Metallurgy. the presence of a brittle outer layer on a malleable iron casting.
Verb phrases
10.
peel off,
  1. to remove (the skin, bark, etc.) or be removed:
    The old skin peeled off.
  2. Aeronautics. to leave a flying formation of aircraft with a banking turn, usually from one end of an echelon.
  3. Informal. to turn off or leave (a road):
    We peeled off the highway onto a dirt road.
  4. to remove (clothing) in a swift upward or downward motion.
Idioms
11.
keep one's eyes peeled, Informal. to watch closely or carefully; be alert:
Keep your eyes peeled for a gas station.
Origin
before 1100; Middle English pelen, Old English pilian to strip, skin < Latin pilāre to remove hair, derivative of pilus hair. See pill2
Related forms
peelable, adjective
unpeelable, adjective
unpeeled, adjective
Synonyms
1. Peel, pare agree in meaning to remove the skin or rind from something. Peel means to pull or strip off the natural external covering or protection of something: to peel an orange, a potato. Pare is used of trimming off chips, flakes, or superficial parts from something, as well as of cutting off the skin or rind: to pare the nails; to pare a potato.
British Dictionary definitions for peel off

peel off

verb (adverb)
1.
to remove or be removed by peeling
2.
(intransitive) (slang) to undress
3.
(intransitive) (of an aircraft) to turn away as by banking, and leave a formation
4.
(slang) to go away or cause to go away

peel1

/piːl/
verb
1.
(transitive) to remove (the skin, rind, outer covering, etc) of (a fruit, egg, etc)
2.
(intransitive) (of paint, etc) to be removed from a surface, esp through weathering
3.
(intransitive) (of a surface) to lose its outer covering of paint, etc esp through weathering
4.
(intransitive) (of a person or part of the body) to shed skin in flakes or (of skin) to be shed in flakes, esp as a result of sunburn
5.
(croquet) to put (another player's ball) through a hoop or hoops
6.
keep one's eyes peeled, keep one's eyes skinned, to watch vigilantly
noun
7.
the skin or rind of a fruit, etc
See also peel off
Word Origin
Old English pilian to strip off the outer layer, from Latin pilāre to make bald, from pilus a hair

peel2

/piːl/
noun
1.
a long-handled shovel used by bakers for moving bread, in an oven
Word Origin
C14 pele, from Old French, from Latin pāla spade, from pangere to drive in; see palette

peel3

/piːl/
noun
1.
(in Britain) a fortified tower of the 16th century on the borders between England and Scotland, built to withstand raids
Word Origin
C14 (fence made of stakes): from Old French piel stake, from Latin pālus; see pale², paling

Peel

/piːl/
noun
1.
John, real name John Robert Parker Ravenscroft. 1939–2004, British broadcaster; presented his influential Radio 1 music programme (1967–2004) and Radio 4's Home Truths (1998–2004)
2.
Sir Robert. 1788–1850, British statesman; Conservative prime minister (1834–35; 1841–46). As Home Secretary (1828–30) he founded the Metropolitan Police and in his second ministry carried through a series of free-trade budgets culminating in the repeal of the Corn Laws (1846), which split the Tory party
Derived Forms
Peelite, noun
Word Origin and History for peel off

peel

v.

"to strip off," developed from Old English pilian "to peel, skin, decorticate, strip the skin or ring," and Old French pillier, both from Latin pilare "to strip of hair," from pilus "hair" (see pile (n.3)). Probably also influenced by Latin pellis "skin, hide." Related: Peeled; peeling. Figurative expression keep (one's) eyes peeled be observant, be on the alert" is from 1853, American English.

n.

piece of rind or skin, 1580s, from earlier pill, pile (late 14c.), from peel (v.)).

"shovel-shaped instrument" used by bakers, etc., c.1400, from Old French pele (Modern French pelle) "shovel," from Latin pala "spade, shovel, baker's peel," of unknown origin.

Slang definitions & phrases for peel off

peel

verb
  1. To undress; strip (1785+)
  2. peel out (1950s+ Hot rodders)
  3. : Many of the young people describe stealing a vehicle as ''peeling it'' (1980s+ Street talk)

Idioms and Phrases with peel off

peel off

.
Remove an outer layer of skin, bark, paint, or the like; also, come off in thin strips or pieces. For example, Peeling off birch bark can kill the tree, or Paint was peeling off the walls. [ Late 1500s ]
.
Remove or separate, as in Helen peeled off her gloves and got to work, or Al peeled off a ten-dollar bill and gave it to the driver. [ First half of 1900s ]
.
Also, peel away. Depart from a group, as in Ruth peeled off from the pack of runners and went down a back road. This expression originated in air force jargon during World War II and was used for an airplane or pilot that left flight formation, a sight that suggested the peeling of skin from a banana.

peel

In addition to the idiom beginning with peel also see: keep one's eyes open (peeled)