To remove ash from something, particularly from a fireplace or burnt material.
From de- (prefix meaning to remove) + ash (residue from fire). The prefix de- comes from Old French and Latin, while ash derives from Old English æsce, related to Germanic ash-words for the powdery residue of combustion.
This word is a perfect example of how English lets us create new verbs by adding the prefix 'de-' to almost anything—it's like a linguistic machine that means 'reverse the action or remove.' You'll find the same pattern in words like 'defrost' and 'decaffeinate.'
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