mangle

Meanings

1. To change, mutilate, or disfigure by cutting, tearing, rearranging, etc.
2. To modify (an identifier from source code) so as to produce a unique identifier for internal use by the compiler, etc.

1. A hand-operated device with rollers, for wringing laundry.
2. The mangle attached to wringer washing machines, often called the wringer.

1. To wring laundry.

1. Synonym of mangrove.
2. Any of various trees of the genus Rhizophora, especially the red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle).
3. A forest of such trees.
4. Preceded by a descriptive word: any of various shrubs or trees of genera other than Rhizophora which resemble plants of this genus in appearance and habitat.

1. A surname.

Etymology

From Middle English mangelen, manglen, from Anglo-Norman mangler, mahangler, frequentative of either Old French mangonner (“to cut to pieces”) or mahaigner (“to mutilate”), of Germanic origin, for which see mayhem. Alternate etymology derives mangle from Middle English *mankelen, a frequentative form of manken (“to mutilate”), from Old English *mancian, bemancian (“to maim”). More at mank.