gallimaufry

[ gal-uh-maw-free ]

noun

, Chiefly Literary.

, plural gal·li·mau·fries.

1. a hodgepodge; confused medley; jumble.

   Synonyms: omnium-gatherum, miscellany, mixed bag, grab bag, goulash, muddle, mess, welter, tangle, mixture, mishmash, mélange, medley, hotchpotch, hodgepodge, hash, farrago

2. a ragout or hash.

gallimaufry

/ ˌɡælɪˈmɔːfrɪ /

noun

1. a jumble; hotchpotch

Word History and Origins

Origin of gallimaufry¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Middle French galimafree “kind of sauce or stew,” probably a conflation of galer “to amuse oneself” and Picard dialect mafrer “to gorge oneself” (from Middle Dutch moffelen “to eat, nosh”); gallant

Word History and Origins

Origin of gallimaufry¹

C16: from French galimafrée ragout, hash, of unknown origin

Example Sentences

On the wall of his study, he keeps a gallimaufry of images—among them Dylan, Freud, David Bowie, his mother, and Brian Eno.

From The New Yorker

In the 1980s as in the 1880s, “the rich gallimaufry of fame”, as Barnes writes, was predominantly male.

From The Guardian

Those who love Cohen may find in this gallimaufry the answer to their prayers.

From New York Times

But I am a lame gallimaufry and she remains perfect.

From Literature

He shows me how to make a gallimaufry, a stew of diced meat, onion, and vegetables, with mustard, ginger, and vinegar.

From Literature