Originally Posted By: lissyj
In lieu of revealing my checkered past, let me just say this; When torturing a prisoner in the Viet Nam era, this meant to put out their eyes. Also, and quite a bit less disgusting, in boxing lingo it occurs when the eyes swell shut. Both the Three Stooges and W. C. Fields used this expression and it was a favorite of Groucho Marx.


I've never heard that before (calling it defenestration, that is), and find it difficult to credit. can you (or anyone else) provide evidence for this?
-joe (doubting) friday

edit - (note to self: wwftd fodder)
excecate - to blind physically or mentally [obs.]
hence, excecation

also, abacinate, occaecate, oversile [all obs. and/or rare]