I. ˈmaŋ-gəl transitive verb
( 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
II. noun
Etymology: Dutch mangel, from German, from Middle High German, diminutive of mange mangonel, mangle, from Latin manganum
Date: 1696
: a machine for ironing laundry by passing it between heated rollers
III. transitive verb
( man·gled ; man·gling -g(ə-)liŋ)
Date: circa 1775
: to press or smooth (as damp linen) with a mangle
• man·gler -g(ə-)lər noun