French

Noun

dépouillement m ‎(plural dépouillements)

1. stripping; skinning (removal of skin from an animal)
2. loss; shedding (of leaves from a tree)
3. stripping; reduction; cutting; snipping; whittling down (removal, at least in part, e.g. of text); act of getting rid
4. robbing, stealing; pinching
5. destitution (state of being without)
6. shedding, disowning (e.g. of personal belongings)
7. count; vote count; counting of votes
8. (computing) data reduction

Usage notes

The main idea is that of getting rid of something, either totally, or in part.