pell-mell

or pell·mell

[ pel-mel ]
/ ˈpɛlˈmɛl /

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.

Origin of pell-mell

1570–80; < Middle French pelemele, Old French pesle mesle, rhyming compound based on mesler to mix. See meddle

Example sentences from the Web for pell-mell

British Dictionary definitions for pell-mell

pell-mell
/ (ˈpɛlˈmɛl) /

adverb

in a confused headlong rush the hounds ran pell-mell into the yard
in a disorderly manner the things were piled pell-mell in the room

adjective

disordered; tumultuous a 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

Cultural definitions for pell-mell

pell-mell

In a confused, disorderly manner: “After the assembly, the students ran pell-mell from the auditorium.”