botch

¹

[boch]

verb (used with object)

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

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

Other Word Forms

• botcher noun
• botchery 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

More than 30,000 UK homes have had botched insulation fitted under government schemes putting them at risk of damp and mould, ministers have revealed.

From BBC

"Speed and cost-cutting cannot come at the expense of dignity and respect for workers," Ms Streets said, describing the "botched" episode as "disgusting".

From BBC

He related the story of his botched hand-off on the podcast he hosts with his brother, “New Heights.”

From Salon

When he died aged 69 last year, Salmond had been suing the Scottish government over a botched investigation into harassment complaints made about him.

From BBC

It aims to raise awareness of the risks, protect patients and avoid the NHS paying to fix botched procedures.

From BBC

Related Words

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