Plunder

Pronunciation

• enPR: plÅ­n'dÉ™(r), IPA: /ˈplÊŒndÉ™(ɹ)/
• Rhymes: -ÊŒndÉ™(ɹ)

Origin

Recorded since 1632 (during the Thirty Years War, native British use since the Cromwellian Civil War), from Hutterisch plunderen ("to plunder, originally "to take away household furniture"") (Dutch plunderen) from plunder ("household goods, clothes; lumber, baggage"); akin to Middle Dutch plunder ("household goods"), West Frisian plunje and Dutch plunje ("clothes").

Full definition of plunder

Verb

1. (transitive) To pillage, take or destroy all the goods of, by force (as in war); to raid, sack.''The mercenaries plundered the small town.The shopkeeper was plundered of his possessions by the burglar.
2. (transitive) To take (goods) by pillage.The mercenaries plundered all the goods they found.
3. (intransitive) To take by force or wrongfully; to commit robbery or looting, to raid.''"Now to plunder, mateys!" screamed a buccaneer, to cries of "Arrgh!" and "Aye!" all around.
4. (transitive) To make extensive (over)use of, as if by plundering; to use or use up wrongfully.''The miners plundered the jungle for its diamonds till it became a muddy waste.

Derived terms

• plunderable
• plunderage
• plunderer
• plunderous

Noun

1. An instance of plundering
2. The loot attained by plundering''The Hessian kept his choicest plunder in a sack that never left his person, for fear that his comrades would steal it.
3. (slang, dated) baggage; luggage