Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DE-TACH', v.t. [Fr. detacher; Arm. distaga; Sp. and Port. destacar; It. staccarre; de and the root of Eng. tack. See Attach.]

1. To separate or disunite; to disengage; to part from; as, to detach the coats of a bulbous root from each other; to detach a man from the interest of the minister, or from a party.
2. To separate men from their companies or regiments; to draw from companies or regiments, as a party of men, and send them on a particular service.
3. To select ships from a fleet, and send them on a separate service.