To remove or strip feathers from; to deprive of feathers or plumage.
From French déplumer or directly from Latin deplumare (de- + pluma, 'feather'). Related to French plume, meaning both feather and writing instrument.
The word plume means both 'feather' and 'writing instrument' in English because quill pens were literally made from feathers—so 'deplume' means both removing actual feathers and, metaphorically, removing someone's ability to write or speak.
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