dépouillement

Etymology
From.

Noun

 * 1) stripping; skinning (removal of skin from an animal)
 * 2) loss; shedding (of leaves from a tree)
 * 3) stripping; reduction; cutting; snipping; whittling down (removal, at least in part, e.g. of text); act of getting rid
 * 4) robbing, stealing; pinching
 * 5) destitution (state of being without)
 * 6) shedding, disowning (e.g. of personal belongings)
 * 7) count; vote count; counting of votes
 * 8)  data reduction

Usage notes
The main idea is that of getting rid of something, either totally, or in part.