botch English · revision 1611

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /bɒt͡ʃ/ ''(UK)''; /bɑt͡ʃ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|bocchen|t=to mend, patch]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline) a word of uncertain origin.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) Random House and the Middle English Compendium identify it, with doubt, with ''bocchen'' “to swell up”,^(RHWU)^(Etymonline) which is [[der|fro-nor|boche]], a variant of Old French ''boce'' “boss, swelling”,^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) though the OED denies the connection.^(Etymonline) The noun ''botch'' “boil, swelling” (1377) is that word.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To mend or patch (before 1382).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb first meant simply to repair, then to repair clumsily.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) By 1530 it meant to spoil by unskilful work,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989) and the noun “a bungled part” followed in 1605.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) A separate noun ''botch'' meaning a boil or a plague of sores is now archaic or dialectal.^(OED 1989)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1377 – noun, a boil or ulcer.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1382 – verb, to mend or patch.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1530 – to spoil by unskilful work.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1561 – to put together clumsily.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1605 – noun, a botched part or piece of work.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To spoil through clumsiness; to [[bungle]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To do or make something clumsily.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To repair or [[patch]] something clumsily.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A badly done or ruined piece of work; a [[mess]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A confused mixture; a [[hodgepodge]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[botcher]]

+ * [[botchy]]

+ * [[botchery]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[boss]]

+ * [[bodge]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary groups ''botch'', ''blow'', ''bungle'', ''fumble'' and ''muff'' as verbs meaning to harm or spoil through clumsy handling.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}