Main Entry:

¹man·gle

Pronunciation:

\ˈmaŋ-gəl\

Function:

transitive verb

Inflected Form(s):

man·gled; man·gling \-g(ə-)liŋ\

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French mangler, mahangler, perhaps from mahaigner to maim — more at mayhem

Date:

15th century

1 : to injure with deep disfiguring wounds by cutting, tearing, or crushing <people…mangled by sharks — V. G. Heiser> 2 : to spoil, injure, or make incoherent especially through ineptitude <a story mangled beyond recognition>

synonyms see maim

— man·gler \-g(ə-)lər\ noun