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. gharbal, 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.
© Webster 1913.
Gar"ble, n.
1.
Refuse; rubbish.
[Obs.]
Wolcott.
2. pl.
Impurities separated from spices, drugs, etc.; -- also called garblings.
© Webster 1913.