dismember

Dismember is a verb meaning to cut or detach limbs from the body, or to divide something into multiple parts. It can describe an act of removing body parts in living or deceased individuals, but in clinical settings it may refer to surgery in which a limb or other body part is removed.

In medical terms, dismemberment is closely related to amputation, disarticulation, or dissection, though the word is usually used in non-technical contexts or in reference to violence. It is not a specific medical procedure.

Etymology: The word comes from Old French desmemberer, from des- meaning apart and membre meaning limb, itself from Latin membrum.

Legal and ethical context: The act is illegal in most jurisdictions and is prosecuted as violent crime. Penalties vary by law, circumstances, and intent; it is widely regarded as one of the more serious forms of bodily harm.

Other uses: Dismember is also the name of a Swedish death metal band formed in 1988. The term appears in fiction, forensics, and academic discussions as well, usually without sensational detail.