"confusedly; in an impetuous rush; with indiscriminate violence, energy, or eagerness," 1570s, from Middle French pêle-mêle, from Old French pesle mesle (12c.), apparently a jingling rhyme on the second element, which is from the stem of the verb mesler "to mix, mingle" (see meddle). The phonetic form pelly melly is attested in English from mid-15c.
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