Peel  —v. 1 a strip the skin, rind, wrapping, etc. From. B (usu. Foll. By off) strip (skin, peel, wrapping, etc.). 2 a become bare of skin, paint, etc. B (often foll. By off) (of skin, paint, etc.) Flake off. 3 (often foll. By off) colloq. (of a person) strip ready for exercise etc. —n. Outer covering of a fruit, vegetable, etc.; rind.  peel off veer away and detach oneself from a group etc.  peeler n. [old english from latin pilo strip of hair]