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