Gār'ble, v. t.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. GARBLED; p. pr. & vb. n. GARBLING.] (O. Fr. grabeler, for garbeler, to examine, to garble spices, &c., and hence, also, to examine precisely, look narrowly, L. Lat. & It. garbellare, to sift, clean, Sp. garbillar, to garble, to sift, from garbillo, a coarse sieve; Lat. cribellum, dim. of cribrum, sieve, allied to cernere, to separate, sift.)

1. To sift or bolt; to separate the fine or valuable parts of from the coarse and useless parts, or from dross or dirt; as, to garble spices. [Obs.]
2. To pick out or select such parts of as may serve a purpose; to mutilate; to corrupt; as, to garble a quotation.