mangle
UK: ˈmæŋ.ɡəl | US: ˈmæŋ.ɡəl
vt. to severely damage or disfigure by tearing, crushing, or cutting
vt. to ruin or spoil something (e.g., a text or performance) through incompetence
n. a machine for pressing or smoothing fabrics, typically using rollers
The word "mangle" traces back to the Old French mangler (to maim or mutilate), likely derived from the Latin manganum (a machine for crushing or pressing). Over time, it evolved to describe both physical destruction (e.g., mangled metal) and metaphorical ruin (e.g., mangled speech). The noun form, referring to a laundry press, retains the original sense of crushing or smoothing.
The car was mangled beyond recognition after the crash.
He mangled the pronunciation of her name during the speech.
The critic claimed the director had mangled the classic play.
She fed the wet sheets through the mangle to remove excess water.
The machine’s gears mangled the documents into confetti.