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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and mail. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To mutilate or injure, in making, doing, or performing; as, to mangle a piece of music or a recitation. [ 1913 Webster ]

To mangle a play or a novel. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Cf. D. mangelen. See Mangle, n. ] To smooth with a mangle, as damp linen or cloth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ D. mangel, fr. OE. mangonel a machine for throwing stones, LL. manganum, Gr. &unr_; a machine for defending fortifications, axis of a pulley. Cf. Mangonel. ] A machine for smoothing linen or cotton cloth, as sheets, tablecloths, napkins, and clothing, by roller pressure, often with heated rollers. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mangle rack (Mach.), a contrivance for converting continuous circular motion into reciprocating rectilinear motion, by means of a rack and pinion, as in the mangle. The pinion is held to the rack by a groove in such a manner that it passes alternately from one side of the rack to the other, and thus gives motion to it in opposite directions, according to the side in which its teeth are engaged. --
Mangle wheel, a wheel in which the teeth, or pins, on its face, are interrupted on one side, and the pinion, working in them, passes from inside to outside of the teeth alternately, thus converting the continuous circular motion of the pinion into a reciprocating circular motion of the wheel. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See 1st Mangle. ] One who mangles or tears in cutting; one who mutilates any work in doing it. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See 3d Mangle. ] One who smooths with a mangle. [ 1913 Webster ]