What does "bowdlerize" mean?

Bowdlerize: To expurgate, as a book, by omitting or modifying the parts considered offensive. It is a grave defect in the splendid tale of Tom Jones . . . that a Bowlderized version of it would be hardly intelligible as a tale. F. Harrison. -- Bowd`ler*i*za"tion (#), n. --Bowd"ler*ism (#), n.