Gar"ble (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Garbled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Garbling.] [Formerly, to pick out, sort, OF. grabeler,
for garbeler to examine precisely, garble spices, fr. LL.
garbellare to sift; cf. Sp. garbillar to sift,
garbillo a coarse sieve, L. cribellum, dim. of
cribrum sieve, akin to cernere to separate, sift (cf.
E. Discern); or perh. rather from Ar. gharbāl,
gharbil, sieve.] 1. To sift or bolt, to
separate the fine or valuable parts of from the coarse and useless
parts, or from dros or dirt; as, to garble spices.
[Obs.]
2. To pick out such parts of as may serve a
purpose; to mutilate; to pervert; as, to garble a quotation;
to garble an account.
Gar"ble, n. 1.
Refuse; rubbish. [Obs.] Wolcott.
2. pl. Impurities separated from
spices, drugs, etc.; -- also called garblings.