botch

¹

[ boch ]

verb (used with object)

1. to spoil by poor work; bungle (often followed by up ):

   He botched up the job thoroughly.

   Synonyms: flub, butcher, muff, mismanage, ruin

2. to do or say in a bungling manner.
3. to mend or patch in a clumsy manner.

noun

1. a clumsy or poor piece of work; bungle:

   He made a complete botch of his first attempt at baking.

2. a clumsily added part or patch.
3. a disorderly or confused combination.

botch

²

[ boch ]

noun

1. a swelling on the skin; a boil.
2. an eruptive disease.

botch

/ bɒtʃ /

verb

1. to spoil through clumsiness or ineptitude
2. to repair badly or clumsily

noun

1. Also calledbotch-up a badly done piece of work or repair (esp in the phrase make a botch of ( something ))

Derived Forms

• ˈbotcher, noun

Other Words From

• botch·er noun
• botch·er·y noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of botch¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English bocchen “to patch up”; perhaps to be identified with bocchen “to swell up, bulge” (verbal derivative of bocche botch ² ), though sense development unclear

Origin of botch²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English bocche, botch(e), from Old North French boche, dialectal variant of Old French, Middle French boce boss ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of botch¹

C14: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

This change also aligns AdSense with Ad Manager and AdMob, botch of which already operate under a first-price auction model.

From Search Engine Land

And if you don't botch the interview, you're pretty much in.

From The Daily Beast

If you don't botch the questionnaire, you are summoned for a one-on-one interview with Pierre.

From The Daily Beast

If you don't botch the email, Pierre will send you a questionnaire-style application form.

From The Daily Beast

He'd botch it, as he's botched everything foreign-policy related in this campaign.

From The Daily Beast

I knowed twas Botch, without lookin, for it couldnt be nothin else.

From Project Gutenberg

When Botch thunkwhen he got hard at ittwould give you the shivers.

From Project Gutenberg

They wasnt no sea nor shore for Botch no more; they wasnt no earth, no heavens.

From Project Gutenberg

Botch-work and bungling are inexcusable, as well in writing as in the transaction of business.

From Project Gutenberg

I am at present here to botch up a piece of work, which was originally well imagined but badly executed.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bobble
• bumble
• bungle
• err
• flub
• fumble
• miscalculate
• mishandle
• misjudge
• mismanage
• muff
• screw up