pell-mell

or pell·mell

[ pel-mel ]

/ ˈpɛlˈmɛl /

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See synonyms for pell-mell on Thesaurus.com

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.

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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

Words nearby pell-mell

Pelletier, pelletize, pellicle, pellicle mirror, pellitory, pell-mell, pellucid, pellum, Pelly, Pelmanism, pelmeny

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use pell-mell in a sentence

Knocking—or praising—schools for their share of Pell Grant recipients really is rearranging the deck chairs here.
When Diversity Fails the Poor|Jedediah Purdy|September 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Our ambition is to become something of a model in financial management rather than a cause for occasional scandal,” Pell said.
Vatican Bank: No More Secret Accounts For Politicians And “Bad Families”|Barbie Latza Nadeau|July 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
How much time Pell and Kwan have spent actually living in Rhode Island (they have a house in Providence) has come into question.
Figure Skater Michelle Kwan Chases Gold in Rhode Island’s Gubernatorial Race|Nicholas McCarvel|April 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“We might have to wait and do further lessons after the election,” Pell says lightheartedly, himself a beginner.
Figure Skater Michelle Kwan Chases Gold in Rhode Island’s Gubernatorial Race|Nicholas McCarvel|April 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Or perhaps she and Pell could try the figure skating pairs event in Pyeongchang in 2018?
Figure Skater Michelle Kwan Chases Gold in Rhode Island’s Gubernatorial Race|Nicholas McCarvel|April 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We sat down pell-mell, anywhere, I next to Liszt, who kept putting things on my plate.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
“I have heard it remarked that she was a very fine woman, Mr. Weller,” said Pell in a sympathising manner.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2)|Charles Dickens
Mrs. Pell was a very elegant and accomplished woman; her manners were the theme of universal admiration in our neighbourhood.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2)|Charles Dickens
The scene beggars description; bags, bundles, bales, boxes are pitched out pell-mell.
Round the Wonderful World|G. E. Mitton
Sobber was with a chum named Nick Pell, and both eyed Dick in a calculating manner which was highly offensive.
The Rover Boys on the Farm|Arthur M. Winfield (AKA Edward Stratemeyer)

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.”

pell-mell

or pell·mell

Origin of pell-mell

Words nearby pell-mell

Words related to pell-mell

How to use pell-mell in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pell-mell

Word Origin for pell-mell

Cultural definitions for pell-mell