dismember

verb

Etymology: From Middle English, from Old French desmembrer, from des- (“de-”) + membre (“limb”) + -er (“verbal suffix”).

1. To remove the limbs of.

   “Death by drawing and quartering usually dismembered the condemned person.”

2. To cut or otherwise divide something into pieces.

   “The killer methodically dismembered the bodies of his victims.”

   “The American Civil War nearly dismembered the Union.”