deforest (v.)

1842 (implied in deforested), "cut down and clear away the forests of," from de- + forest. Related: Deforesting. Disforest in the sense "to clear of trees" is from 1660s. Disafforest is attested in this sense from 1842; originally it meant "reduce from the legal status of a forest" (mid-15c., from Old French).