adv., adj., & n.
--adv.
1. headlong, recklessly (rushed pell-mell out of the room).
2 in disorder or confusion (stuffed the papers together pell-mell).
--adj. confused, tumultous.
--n. confusion; a mixture.
Etymology: F p{ecirc}le-m{ecirc}le, OF pesle mesle, mesle pesle, etc., redupl. of mesle f. mesler mix