[a. F. castration, or ad. L. castrātiōn-em, n. of action f. castrāre to castrate.] The action of castrating, in various senses.
1. The removing of the testicles; gelding.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., VI. 92. Now … is goode castracion Of litel boles.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 47. The Egyptians in opinion of the aforesaid Castration, when they will signifie a man that hurteth himselfe, they picture a Beauer biting off his owne stones.
1714. Mandeville, Fab. Bees (1729), II. 102. Is it as true, that Luxury will render a Nation flourishing, and the private Vices are publick Benefits, as that Castration preserves and strengthens the Voice?
1875. Blake, Zool., 30. Castration produces diminution in size of the horns.
† 2. The act of taking away a portion of the honey from the hive. Obs. [Cf. L. castrāre alveāria (Palladius); Fr. châtrer une ruche.]
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., XI. 267. Castracion the been have efte this moone.
1623. C. Butler, Fem. Mon., X. (1623), V j. Exsection or castration … is the cutting out of part of the Combes, part being left for the Bees prouision.
† 3. Mutilation, ‘cutting down.’ Obs.
1728. Morgan, Algiers, I. List Subscribers, Near 100 … have … desired to be excused, and accordingly they are erased…. I almost repent my consenting to so great a Castration.
4. The removal of objectionable parts from a literary work; expurgation. Also concr.
1791–1824. D’Israeli, Cur. Lit. (1859), II. 448. A partial suppression, or castration of passages … fatal to the cause of truth.
1806. in Holinshed’s Scot. Chron., I. 7. In this second edition, several sheets … were castrated for containing some passages disagreeable to Queen Elizabeth … but the castrations have since been printed apart.
