I. noun
or rig·a·ma·role ˈrig(ə)məˌrōl sometimes -ˌrō
( -s )
Etymology: alteration of ragman roll
1. : a succession of confused, meaningless, or foolish statements : prolix and rambling or incoherent talk
a snarling violent rigmarole … kept on coming from him — Claud Cockburn
never heard such a rigmarole — George Meredith
2. : a complex and ritualistic procedure that is characterized more by form than genuine meaning
the odd procedures and mysterious rigmaroles of industrial laboratories — John McCarten
the whole academic rigmarole of scales and exercises was unnecessary — Winthrop Sargeant
II. adjective
also rig·ma·rol·ish -ōlish
: consisting of or marked by rigmarole
babbling its indistinct rigmarole story — Edmund Wilson
read some long rigmarolish old records — Samuel Lover