[f. LIMB sb.1]
1. trans. To pull limb from limb; to dismember. Also with up.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., To Rdr. As the one had wrackt and limm’d my thoughts … so had the other nipt in my soul and shrivell’d up my thoughts.
1693. Smallridge, Jul. Cæsar, in Dryden’s Plutarch, IV. 482. They … ran … up and down the city, to find out the men, and limb them.
1731. Bailey, vol. II. To limb, to pull limb from limb.
1885. S. Tromholt, Aurora Borealis, I. 172. The intestines being taken out, the trunk is limbed up … each joint being skilfully dissected.
1888. Daily News, 10 Sept., 7/1. As to hearing the defendant threaten to ‘limb’ the complainant.
† 2. refl. To provide oneself with limbs. Obs.
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 352. As they please, They Limb themselves, and colour, shape or size Assume, as likes them best.
