strike off

Verb

strike off (third-person singular simple present strikes off, present participle striking off, simple past struck off, past participle struck off or stricken off)

1. (transitive) To remove from a list or register.
   • She struck off his name from the list.
   1. (UK, transitive, usually, passive voice) To be forbidden from practicing in a regulated profession (medicine, law etc.) by virtue of being removed (usually for malpractice) from a statutory register required to practice that profession.
      • The doctor was struck off the medical register for professional misconduct.
      • Dr. Steel Scott Struck Off the Medical Register1891 November 27, “Dr. Steel Scott Struck Off the Medical Register”, in Birmingham Evening Mail, page 2
2. (dated, transitive) To void an obligation; to deduct.
   • He was kind enough to strike off the debt.
   • But where's th'overseer now, to put um i'their reight places?—tardy,—tardy! always tardy. Odsbuddikins, I'll strike off a quarter of a day's wages fro' all that come nut at th'reight time,—I'll teach um.1770, “Act I, Scene ii”, in The Reapers: Or the Englishman Out Of Paris. An Opera, London: T. Carnan […] , page 11
3. (transitive) To print (a work) in a hurried manner.
   • Nothing is heard but the monotonous houp! hank! of the Indians, as in a cloud of steam of their own manufacture, they strike off the paper. Nothing can be seen without but a shower of quarters, bits, and dimes darkening the air as they are thrown from the purchasers.1856, George Derby [writing as John Phoenix], Phœnixiana; or, Sketches and Burlesques, New York: D. Appleton & Company, page 134
   • I'll strike off a copy for the subeditor later.
4. (transitive) To sever or separate by a blow.
   • Strike off his head, I command you!
   • PITHIAS: […] That loues him better then his owne life, and will doo to his ende: / ake mee, Oh mightie Kinge, my lyfe I pawne for his, / Strike off my head, if Damon hap at his day to misse.1571, Richard Edwards, The Excellent Comedie Of Two the Moste Faithfullest Freendes, Damon and Pithias, London: Richard Ihones, page 825
5. (intransitive) To start going in a new direction or course of endeavor.
   • She decided to strike off on a new course.
   • They both said, Robin was order'd to carry me to my Father's. And Mr. Colbrand was to leave me within ten Miles, and then strike off for the other House, and wait till my Master arriv'd there. They both spoke so solemnly, that I cannot but believe them.1741, [Samuel Richardson], Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded. […], 3rd edition, volume II, London: […] C[harles] Rivington, […]; and J. Osborn, […], →OCLC, page 37