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

To not only botch this chance but also to do so without even scoring a touchdown?

From Los Angeles Times

Earlier this month, the justices let stand a Pennsylvania court decision that allowed voters with botched mail-in ballots to cast provisional ballots in person, which Finkelstein said was reassuring.

From Salon

She initially was handed the unofficial role of administration point person on illegal immigration and botched it.

From Los Angeles Times

The ex-president defended his record on Puerto Rico, despite widespread criticism of his administration’s botched response to Hurricane Maria.

From Salon

Brauer believes California’s botched rollout of public EV charging stations is a major hurdle.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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