transitive verb mutilated -·lat′ed, mutilating -·lat′·ing

1. to cut off or damage a limb or other important part of (a person or animal)
2. to damage, injure, or otherwise mar, esp. by removing an essential part or parts to mutilate a book by censorship

Etymology: < L mutilatus, pp. of mutilare, to maim, mutilate < mutilus, maimed; akin to Ir mut, short