Used in the phrase 'pell-mell', meaning in a confused, rushed, or disorderly manner.
From Middle French pesle-mesle, literally meaning 'mix-mix', formed by reduplication of mesler 'to mix, mingle'. The 'pell' component developed through folk etymology and sound changes.
The word 'pell' rarely appears alone in modern English—it's almost exclusively used in 'pell-mell', making it a fascinating example of a bound morpheme. The original French reduplication created an intensifying effect that perfectly captures chaotic rushing motion.
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