Bowdlerize \Bowd"ler*ize\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Bowdlerized}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Bowdlerizing}.] [After Dr. Thomas Bowdler, an
English physician, who published an expurgated edition of
Shakespeare in 1818.]
To expurgate, as a book, by omitting or modifying the parts
considered offensive; to remove morally objectionable parts;
-- said of literary texts.

Syn: bowdlerise, expurgate, shorten, cut.
[1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]

It is a grave defect in the splendid tale of Tom
Jones . . . that a Bowdlerized version of it would
be hardly intelligible as a tale. --F. Harrison.
※ -- {Bowd`ler*i*za"tion}, n. --
{Bowd"ler*ism}, n.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]

bowdlerization \bowdlerization\ n.
the deletion of all passages considered to be indecent.

Syn: bowdlerisation, expurgation.
[WordNet 1.5]