pell-mell
or pell·mell
[ pel-mel ]
/ ˈpɛlˈmɛl /
Save This Word!
adverb
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.
adjective
indiscriminate; disorderly; confused: a pell-mell dash after someone.
overhasty or precipitate; rash: pell-mell spending.
noun
a confused or jumbled mass, crowd, etc.
disorderly, headlong haste.
QUIZZES
THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?
Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.
Question 1 of 8
Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?
Origin of pell-mell
1570–80; <Middle French pelemele,Old French pesle mesle, rhyming compound based on mesler to mix. See meddle
Words nearby pell-mell
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for pell-mell
British Dictionary definitions for pell-mell
pell-mell
/ (ˈpɛlˈmɛl) /
adverb
in a confused headlong rushthe hounds ran pell-mell into the yard
in a disorderly mannerthe things were piled pell-mell in the room
adjective
disordered; tumultuousa pell-mell rush for the exit
noun
disorder; confusion
Word Origin for pell-mell
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
Cultural definitions for pell-mell
pell-mell
In a confused, disorderly manner: “After the assembly, the students ran pell-mell from the auditorium.”
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.