Mangle \Man"gle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mangled; p. pr. & vb. n. Mangling.]

[A frequentative fr. OE. manken to main, AS. mancian, in bemancian to mutilate, fr. L. mancus maimed; perh. akin to G. mangeln to be wanting.]

1. To cut or bruise with repeated blows or strokes, making a ragged or torn wound, or covering with wounds; to tear in cutting; to cut in a bungling manner; to lacerate; to mutilate.

Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and mail. --Milton.

2. To mutilate or injure, in making, doing, or pertaining; as, to mangle a piece of music or a recitation.

To mangle a play or a novel. --Swift.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)