1. trans. To divest (a person) of clothing; to undress; to strip.
c. 1300. Havelok, 659. Grim dede maken a ful fayr bed; Vncloþede him, and dede him þer-inne.
1382. Wyclif, Matt. xxvii. 28. And thei vnclothinge hym, diden aboute hym a rede mantel.
1485. in Rutland Papers (Camden), 16. Wher as the King shalbe vnraied and vnclothed by his Chamberlayn.
1556. Aurelio & Isab. (1608), P iv. They unclothede him of his garmentes.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., X. 476. I was … vnclothed to my skin.
1790. Burns, Lett., in Cromek, Reliques (1808), 101. Unclothing the naturalist [in a picture], and giving him a rather more resolute look.
transf. c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., IV. 449. In the wynter seson, Couert of stre their coldes most appeson. When somer comth, vnclothe hem.
b. refl. († Also with double object.)
1382. Wyclif, Ezek. xliv. 19. Thei shuln vnclothe hem her clothingus.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xxii. 491. He wente to his chambre, & vnclothed hymselfe from his goode raymentes.
1530. Palsgr., 766/2. Unclothe you at ones, for you shall be trymmed starke naked.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., II. xxi. 58. Seats … vppon the which they vncloth themselues.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, V. xxiv. 397. The ceremonies, dancing and sacrifice ended, they went to vnclothe themselves.
transf. 1661. Morgan, Sph. Gentry, I. vi. 87. The Sheep doth uncloth it self to apparel man.
c. In various figurative uses.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 82. To vnclothe our olde man and make hym all naked, that he may be renewed in god.
1586. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., I. 440. Let us learne to uncloath our harts of all envie and hatred.
1622. S. Ward, Life of Faith in Death, 104. Though they doe not Cynically reuile the body as a Clog, a prison,… yet are they willing, yea and sigh to be vncloathed.
1632. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 23. You’l uncloath your owne shame, and thereby procure your selfe many losses and disgraces.
1671. Flavel, Fount. Life, v. 13. The Seleusians affirmed that He unclothed himself of His Humanity.
1849. Stovel, Canne’s Necess., 55. The sombre but joyous magnanimity of Frith unclothed an element in human nature which human expedients can never overcome.
1870. Newman, Gram. Assent, II. x. Why am I … unclothing my mind of that large outfit of existing thoughts,… desires, and hopes, which make me what I am?
2. To strip of leaves or vegetation.
In the first quot. perhaps intr., ‘to shed the leaves.’
a. 1547. Surrey, in Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 16. When Boreas gan his raigne, And euery tree vnclothed fast, as nature taught them plaine.
1613. Dennis, Secr. Angling, I. v. When … blustring Boreas with his chilling cold, Vnclothed hath the Trees of Sommers greene.
1707. Mortimer, Husb., Ss 3 b. Nov[ember] … generally proves dry, and the Earth and Trees are wholly uncloathed.
3. To remove a cloth or cloths from.
In early quots. perh. strictly uncloth.
1607. Markham, Cavel., III. (1617), 21. First let your Groom vncloath him, then … dresse him in such sort as belongs to his place and office. Ibid. (1623), Eng. Housew., v. 217. Couer it ouer with some thicke wollen clothes,… the warmth whereof will make it Come presently: which once perceiued, then forthwith vncloth it.
1825. J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 39. Many wind-mills are provided with flying-balls, which, by very ingenious mechanism, clothe and unclothe the sails just in proportion to the strength of the wind.
1893. N. & Q., 8th Ser. III. 75/2. When the force of the wind increased, the miller was obliged to bring each of the sails in succession to the ground, in order to ‘unclothe’ it.
Hence Unclothing vbl. sb.
1643. Caryl, Expos. Job, I. 104. Death is called an uncloathing,… because it pulleth all outward things off from a man.
1650. Baxter, Saints’ R., V. § 2. 54. If unclothing be the thing thou fearest; why, it is, that thou mayst have better clothing put on.
