pell-mell [LME] People like words that combine two almost identical forms, like helter-skelter [L16th], mishmash [LME], *namby-pamby, and wishy-washy [L17th]—and pell-mell. Its second element represents a form of French mesler ‘to mix’ (related to *medley). The first part might be from pelle ‘shovel’, giving the sense ‘mixed together with a shovel’, but the simple love of rhyme may be the only explanation needed.