1. verb, To wear the off the external layer.

2. verb, To berate or harshly criticize, to "tear a new hole", as it were

"Yesterday, the senate investigative committee excoriated the Ford representative for his his statements implying that the American people were at fault for the recent surge in Ford-Explorer-Firestone-tire-related traffic deaths."

Ex*co"ri*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Excoriated (?);p. pr. & vb. n. excoriating (?).] [L. excoriare; ex out + corium hide. cf. Scourge; see Cuirass.]

To strip or wear off the skin of; to abrade; to gall; to break and remove the cuticle of, in any manner, as by rubbing, beating, or by the action of acrid substances.

 

© Webster 1913.

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