mangle

From Middle English mangelen, manglen, from Anglo-Norman mangler, mahangler, frequentative of either Old French mangonner (“to cut to pieces”) or mahaigner (“to mutilate”), of Germanic origin, for which see mayhem. Alternate etymology derives mangle from Middle English mankelen, a frequentative form of manken (“to mutilate”), from Old English mancian, bemancian (“to maim”). More at mank.

Ca. 1700, from Dutch mangel, from Early Modern German Mangel (15th c.), enhanced form (by analogy with other tool names in -el) of Middle High German mange, from Medieval Latin manga, manganum, from Ancient Greek μάγγανον (mánganon). Doublet of mangonel.

Borrowed from Spanish mangle, mangue, probably from an Arawak language (such as Taíno), or a Cariban language.