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 performing; as, to mangle a piece of music or a recitation.
To mangle a play or a novel. Swift.