mangle
A mangle is a device used for ironing clothes that also helps remove wrinkles by stretching and smoothing out fabrics.
You might use a mangle to get rid of those pesky wrinkles on your favorite shirt or dress. If you've got some old-fashioned linens, like tablecloths or sheets, a mangle can help make them look crisp and new again. Some people still have an electric or manual mangle at home, especially if they do a lot of ironing for work or just prefer the way it makes their clothes look.
How common is "mangle"?
Word mangle is considered rare in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
Definitions
verb
(transitive) To change, mutilate, or disfigure by cutting, tearing, rearranging, etc.
Example: c. 1703-20, Jonathan Swift, A Letter to a Very Young Lady on Her Marriage when they are disposed to mangle a play or a novel
Real examples of "mangle" in context
