1.To remove serviceable parts from (damaged airplanes, for example) for use in the repair of other equipment of the same kind.
2.To deprive of vital elements or resources, such as personnel, equipment, or funding, for use elsewhere: †œIt becomes necessary to cannibalize unsuccessful projects to fund those which can proceedââ‚à ‚¬Ã‚ (Daily Report for Executives).
3.To draw on as a major source: †œcannibalizes the lives of his wife and friends for his second-rate novelsÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šà ¬Ã‚Â (Washington Post).
4.To practice cannibalism on.
in ntl's case, #4 fits perfectly!
