defenestrate

[ dee-fen-uh-streyt ]

verb (used with object)

, de·fen·es·trat·ed, de·fen·es·trat·ing.

1. to throw (a person or thing) out of a window:

   A Portuguese bishop, accused of conspiring with the leaders of Castile, was defenestrated from the north tower of Lisbon's cathedral in 1383.

2. to suddenly remove (a person) from an important position or office:

   The chief executive was defenestrated after a corruption investigation.

Word History and Origins

Origin of defenestrate¹

First recorded in 1900–05; back formation from defenestration ( def )