defenestrate

verb

Etymology: Etymology tree New Latin dē Etruscan *𐌚𐌍𐌄𐌔𐌕𐌓𐌀 (*fnestra)bor.? New Latin fenestra Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō New Latin -ātiō New Latin dēfenestrātiōder. English defenestrationbf. English defenestrate First attested in 1904; back-formation from defenestration on the basis of -ate (verb-forming suffix), from New Latin dē- (“out”) + fenestra (“window”) + -ātiō (“-ation”).

1. To eject or throw (someone or something) from or through a window.

   “I defenestrated a clock to see if time flies!”

2. To throw out; to remove or dismiss (someone) from a position of power or authority.

   “The cultural historians of science 'feel the need to defenestrate science, or at least take it off its pedestal' (Pumfrey. Rossi & Slawinski 1991. p. 3).”

   “Ever since he helped to defenestrate Richard Nixon in 1974, Mr Woodward has been a sort of super-reporter ...”

3. To remove a Windows operating system from (a computer).

   “This posting was written on a Windows 95 PC, Defenestrate it immediately. Install Linux. :-)”

   “◦ Enable one-click uninstalls of unwanted OS and application features with a Defenestrate icon.”