Excoriation
/ˌɛksˌkɔːriˈeɪʃən/noun
The act of rubbing or scraping the skin off, or severe criticism.
Did you know?In classical Latin, excoriāre meant to flay or skin an animal, so the word’s harsh modern meaning is not metaphorical decoration — it’s inherited violence.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
excoriāre
“to flay, strip off the skin”
Late Latin
Latin
excoriātiō
“a flaying or skinning”
Middle English
English
excoriacioun
“the act of skinning or flaying”
Modern English
English
excoriation
“the removal of skin; harsh censure”