estropier

to cripple, maim

verb eh-stroh-PYEH Rare

Origin: From Italian storpiare.

Also means

to mangle (a word or text)

Usage Note

Estropier literally means to cause a permanent physical disability through injury. Figuratively and very commonly, it means to mangle a word, name, or piece of music: estropier un prénom étranger ('to mangle a foreign name'). The figurative sense is the more frequently heard one in everyday conversation. The past participle estropié can be used as a noun meaning 'a cripple' (though this is considered dated).

Examples

"Il a estropié le nom de famille."

Natural Translation

He mangled the surname.

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