pell-mell English · revision 1367

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpɛlˈmɛl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|pêle-mêle]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from Old French ''pesle mesle'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) a rhyming reduplication of ''mesle'', from ''mesler'' “to mix”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) It is related to [[meddle]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) Middle English already had a phrase ''pelly melly'' (about 1450).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of combatants, in a confused mingling, hand to hand; and of pursuers and pursued (1579–80).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From mingled confusion the word came to mean headlong haste (1594)^(OED 1989) and indiscriminately (1586, now obsolete).^(OED 1989) The adjective “disorderly” is from 1585^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989) and the noun “a confused mixture or fight” from 1598.^(OED 1989) Etymonline compares [[higgledy-piggledy]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 1450 – ''pelly melly''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1579–80 – in mingled confusion, as of combatants.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1585 – adjective.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1594 – in headlong haste.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1598 – noun, a confused mixture.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In a jumbled, confused manner; [[helter-skelter]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # In reckless, disorderly haste; [[headlong]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Disorderly or overhasty.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A confused mass or disorderly haste.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[meddle]]

+ * [[melee]]

+ * [[pall-mall]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}