botch
1[ boch ]
/ bɒtʃ /
Save This Word!
verb (used with object)
to spoil by poor work; bungle (often followed by up): He botched up the job thoroughly.
to do or say in a bungling manner.
to mend or patch in a clumsy manner.
noun
a clumsy or poor piece of work; bungle: He made a complete botch of his first attempt at baking.
a clumsily added part or patch.
a disorderly or confused combination.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!
Set some time apart to test your bracket symbol knowledge, and see if you can keep your parentheses, squares, curlies, and angles all straight!
Question 1 of 7
Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT Origin of botch
1First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English bocchen “to patch up”; perhaps to be identified with bocchen “to swell up, bulge” (verbal derivative of bocche botch2), though sense development unclear
OTHER WORDS FROM botch
botch·er, nounbotch·er·y, nounWords nearby botch
Definition for botch (2 of 2)
botch2
[ boch ]
/ bɒtʃ /
noun
a swelling on the skin; a boil.
an eruptive disease.
Origin of botch
2Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for botch
British Dictionary definitions for botch
botch
/ (bɒtʃ) /
verb (tr often foll by up)
to spoil through clumsiness or ineptitude
to repair badly or clumsily
noun
Also called: botch-up a badly done piece of work or repair (esp in the phrase make a botch of (something))
Derived forms of botch
botcher, nounWord Origin for botch
C14: of unknown origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012