rigmarole

[ rig-muh-rohl ]
/ ˈrɪg məˌroʊl /

noun

an elaborate or complicated procedure: to go through the rigmarole of a formal dinner.
confused, incoherent, foolish, or meaningless talk.
Also rigamarole.

Origin of rigmarole

First recorded in 1730–40; alteration of ragman roll

Example sentences from the Web for rigmarole

British Dictionary definitions for rigmarole

rigmarole

rigamarole

/ (ˈrɪɡməˌrəʊl) /

noun

any long complicated procedure
a set of incoherent or pointless statements; garbled nonsense

Word Origin for rigmarole

C18: from earlier ragman roll a list, probably a roll used in a medieval game, wherein various characters were described in verse, beginning with Ragemon le bon Ragman the good