pell-mell

or pell·mell

[ pel-mel ]

adverb

1. in disorderly, headlong haste; in a recklessly hurried manner.
2. in a confused or jumbled mass, crowd, manner, etc.:

   The crowd rushed pell-mell into the store when the doors opened.

adjective

1. indiscriminate; disorderly; helter-skelter:

   a pell-mell dash after someone.

2. overhasty or precipitate; rash:

   pell-mell spending.

noun

1. a confused or jumbled mass, crowd, etc.
2. disorderly, headlong haste.

pell-mell

/ ˈpɛlˈmɛl /

adverb

1. in a confused headlong rush

   the hounds ran pell-mell into the yard

2. in a disorderly manner

   the things were piled pell-mell in the room

adjective

1. disordered; tumultuous

   a pell-mell rush for the exit

noun

1. disorder; confusion

pell-mell

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of pell-mell¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from Middle French pelemele, Old French pesle mesle, rhyming compound based on mesler “to mix”; meddle

Word History and Origins

Origin of pell-mell¹

C16: from Old French pesle-mesle, jingle based on mesler to meddle

Example Sentences

The Wall Street Journal argued it’s yet more proof that citizens are fleeing pell-mell from the libs.

From Seattle Times

On one level, “Infested” is a well-worn, thoroughly efficient creature feature with sleek effects and pell-mell pacing.

From New York Times

He’s also assembled a pell-mell array of older painting and sculpture from Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.

From New York Times

The U.S. had been pushing other nations, especially China and India which are building new coal plants pell-mell, to get rid of the fuel, which causes more heat-trapping carbon emissions than other power systems.

From Seattle Times

The MFA show is too pell-mell in its second half to chart properly how Hokusai’s example took global flight in the 20th century.

From New York Times