gar·bling \-b(ə)liŋ, -lēŋ\noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English garbeling, from garbelen + -ing 1.archaic a.: the act or process of sorting out the best part : culling; specifically: the sifting of spices b.: the refuse produced by culling — usually used in plural 2.: an act or instance of distortion : garble < a wholesale garbling of titles and proper names — J.H.Buckley >