1602, from L. expungere "mark (a name on a list) for deletion" by pricking dots above or below it, lit. "prick out," from ex- "out" + pungere "to prick, stab."
Main Entry: ex·punge Pronunciation: ik-'sp&nj Function: transitive verb Inflected Forms: ex·punged; ex·pung·ing : to cancel out or destroy completely <expunge the court records of an acquitted defendant> —ex·punge·mentnoun