English Explanatory Dictionary

rigmarole

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A long and complicated formal procedure.
  2. Confused and incoherent talk; nonsense.
adj
  1. Characterized by rigmarole; prolix; tedious.

Pronunciation

/ˈɹɪɡməɹəʊl/ /ˈɹɪɡməɹoʊl/ en-us-rigmarole.ogg en-au-rigmarole.ogg

Word forms

rigmarole rigmaroles rigamarole

Etymology

From ragman roll (“long list; catalogue”). Recorded since c1736.

Synonyms

carry-on circus act palaver riddle me ree rigmarole song and dance babble blather gibberish migmarole absurdity all my eye all my eye and Betty Martin applesauce bafflegab balderdash balls baloney banana oil Bandini baragouin batcrap batshit bilgewater blah blatherskite bobbins bollocks bosh BS bull bullcrap bulldust bull feathers bullshit bullspeak bunk bunkum bushwah clamjamfrey claptrap cobblers codswallop crap crock crock of shit double Dutch double talk doublespeak dribble drivel eyewash fiddle-faddle flapdoodle flim-flam flizz flummery folderol foolishness footle

Derived words

rigmarolery rigmarolic rigmarolish
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