garble

Meanings

1. To pick out such parts (of a text) as may serve a purpose not intended by the original author; to mutilate; to pervert.
2. To make false by mutilation or addition.
3. To corrupt; to make unreadable, incomprehensible, or unintelligible.
4. To sift or bolt; to separate the fine or valuable parts of (something) from the coarse and useless parts, or from dross or dirt.

1. Confused or unintelligible speech.
2. Refuse; rubbish.
3. Mutilation.
4. Impurities separated from spices, drugs, etc.; garblings.

Etymology

From Middle English garbelen, from Anglo-Norman garbeler (“to sift”), from Medieval Latin garbellare (or a similar Italian word), from Arabic غَرْبَلَ (ḡarbala, “to sift”).