Bowd"ler*ize (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Bowdlerized (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Bowdlerizing (?).] [After Dr. Thomas
Bowdler, an English physician, who published an expurgated
edition of Shakespeare in 1818.]
To expurgate, as a book, by
omitting or modifying the parts considered offensive.
It is a grave defect in the splendid tale of Tom Jones
. . . that a Bowdlerized version of it would be hardly
intelligible as a tale. F. Harrison.
-- Bowd`ler*i*za"tion (#), n. --
Bowd"ler*ism (#), n.
© Webster 1913.