An older term in the lexicon of laryngology, now passing out of use. The idea of stripping the vocal cords is to grasp the mucosa superficially, and then to “peel” it, along with whatever pathology might be present. The thought was that the mucosa would re-grow and be more normal.
With more modern concepts of the crucial importance of the mucosa and, particularly, the need for it to be loosely attached to underlying layers of the cords, the practice of stripping has been discredited in favor of more precise removal of otherwise irreversible lesions.