botch

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English

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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From Middle English bocchen (to mend), of uncertain origin. Possibly from Old English bōtettan (to improve; cure; remedy; repair), or from Middle Dutch botsen, butsen, boetsen (to repair; patch), related to beat. Duplet to bodge.

Verb

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botch (third-person singular simple present botches, present participle botching, simple past and past participle botched)

  1. (transitive) To perform (a task) in an unacceptable or incompetent manner; to make a mess of something
    Synonyms: ruin, bungle; see also Thesaurus:spoil
    A botched haircut seems to take forever to grow out.
  2. To do something without skill, without care, or clumsily.
    (Can we add an example for this sense?)
  3. To repair or mend clumsily.
    Synonyms: bodge; see also Thesaurus:kludge
Derived terms
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Translations
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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Noun

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botch (plural botches)

  1. An action, job, or task that has been performed very badly; a ruined, defective, or clumsy piece of work.
  2. A patch put on, or a part of a garment patched or mended in a clumsy manner.
  3. A mistake that is very stupid or embarrassing.
    (Can we add an example for this sense?)
  4. A messy, disorderly or confusing combination; conglomeration; hodgepodge.
  5. (archaic) One who makes a mess of something.
    Synonym: bungler
    • 1863, J[oseph] Sheridan Le Fanu, “Æsculapius to the Rescue”, in The House by the Church-yard. [], volume I, London: Tinsley, Brothers, [], →OCLC, page 149:
      If it was the last word I ever spoke, Puddock, you're a good natured—he 's a gentleman, sir—and it was all my own fault; he warned me, he did, again' swallyin' a dhrop of it—remember what I'm saying, Doctor—'twas I that done it; I was always a botch, Puddock, an' a fool; and—and—gentlemen—good-by.
Derived terms
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Translations
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See also

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Etymology 2

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From Middle English botche, from Anglo-Norman boche, from Late Latin bocia (boss).

Noun

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botch (plural botches)

  1. (obsolete) A tumour or other malignant swelling.
    • 1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. [], London: [] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker []; [a]nd by Robert Boulter []; [a]nd Matthias Walker, [], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: [], London: Basil Montagu Pickering [], 1873, →OCLC, line 1071:
      Botches and blaines muſt all his fleſh imboſs,
  2. A case or outbreak of boils or sores.