Edit page | Page history | Printable version

Botch

Origin: same as Boss a stud. For senses 2 & 3 cf. D. Botsen to beat, akin to E. Beat.

1. A swelling on the skin; a large ulcerous affection; a boil; an eruptive disease. Botches and blains must all his flesh emboss. (Milton)

2. A patch put on, or a part of a garment patched or mended in a clumsy manner.

3. Work done in a bungling manner; a clumsy performance; a piece of work, or a place in work, marred in the doing, or not properly finished; a bungle. To leave no rubs nor botches in the work. (Shak)