pell-mell
or pell·mell
[pel-mel]
- in disorderly, headlong haste; in a recklessly hurried manner.
- in a confused or jumbled mass, crowd, manner, etc.: The crowd rushed pell-mell into the store when the doors opened.
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- indiscriminate; disorderly; confused: a pell-mell dash after someone.
- overhasty or precipitate; rash: pell-mell spending.
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- a confused or jumbled mass, crowd, etc.
- disorderly, headlong haste.
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Origin of pell-mell
1570–80; < Middle French pelemele, Old French pesle mesle, rhyming compound based on mesler to mix. See meddle
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for pell-mell
Contemporary Examples
For now, the momentum does appear to be firmly behind the rebel forces in the east and their pell-mell dash through the desert.
Historical Examples
This was promptly followed by a pell-mell dash for the open.
The Law-BreakersRidgwell Cullum
Thus the facts reach us pell-mell, without distinction of nature.
Introduction to the Study of HistoryCharles V. Langlois
On board went the Rough Riders pell-mell, and not a minute too soon.
American Boy's Life of Theodore RooseveltEdward Stratemeyer
Pell-mell down the stairs rushed the youths, one after another.
Dave Porter in the Gold FieldsEdward Stratemeyer
The condemned were loaded into them pell-mell, with hands tied.
The Gods are AthirstAnatole France
pell-mell
- in a confused headlong rushthe hounds ran pell-mell into the yard
- in a disorderly mannerthe things were piled pell-mell in the room
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- disordered; tumultuousa pell-mell rush for the exit
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- disorder; confusion
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Word Origin
C16: from Old French pesle-mesle, jingle based on mesler to meddle
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for pell-mell
adv.
"confusedly," 1570s, from Middle French pêle-mêle, from Old French pesle mesle (12c.), apparently a jingling rhyme on the second element, which is from the stem of the verb mesler "to mix, mingle" (see meddle). Phonetic French form pelly melly is attested in English from mid-15c.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
pell-mell
In a confused, disorderly manner: “After the assembly, the students ran pell-mell from the auditorium.”
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The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.