English Explanatory Dictionary

pell-mell

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Hasty and uncontrolled.
adv
  1. In haste and chaos; uncontrolledly, confusedly.
noun
  1. Alternative form of pall mall (“ball game”).

Pronunciation

/ˈpɛlˈmɛl/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Persent101-pell-mell.wav

Word forms

pell-mell more pell-mell most pell-mell pell mell pellmell

Etymology

From French pêle-mêle, from Old French pesle-mesle, apparently a rhyme based on the stem of mesler (“to mix, meddle”). Compare meddle, melee.

Related words

helter-skelter willy-nilly
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