Word Origin & History
plunder1632, from M.H.G. plunderen "to plunder," originally "to take away household furniture," from plunder "household goods, clothes" (cf. M.H.G. plunder "lumber, baggage," 14c.; M.Du. plunder "household goods;" Fris., Du. plunje "clothes"). A word acquired by English via the Thirty Years War and applied
EXPAND in native use after the outbreak of the Civil War in 1642. The noun meaning "goods taken by force" is from 1647.
COLLAPSE