I. ˈmedlē, -li noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English medle, from Middle French meslee, mesdlee, medlee, from feminine of meslé, mesdlé, medlé, past participle of mesler, mesdler, medler to mix, quarrel, fight — more at meddle
1. archaic : combat , melee
2.
a. archaic : combination , mingling
b. : a heterogeneous mixture : hodgepodge , jumble , mélange
has a wood-smoke flavor along with the medley of other tastes — Molly L. Bar-David
his mind was confused with a medley of thoughts — Wilson Collison
a medley of oil cans, empty cracker boxes, and whiskey bottles, loose spokes of cartwheels — Ellen Glasgow
3. archaic : a varicolored cloth of wool dyed in the raw
4.
a. archaic : a musical composition put together of passages ill-matched in style or form
b. : a performance blending together a series of songs or other musical pieces
a medley of service songs — Virgil Thomson
a piano medley
5. archaic : a literary miscellany
II. adjective
Etymology: Middle English medle, from medle, n.
1.
a. obsolete : of a mixed color : motley
b. archaic : of, relating to, or consisting of medley cloth
2. archaic : of, relating to, or making up a confused or miscellaneous assemblage : mixed
III. transitive verb
( medleyed or medlied ; medleyed or medlied ; medleying ; medleys )
Etymology: medley (I)
archaic : to make a medley of : mix , mingle