E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Pell-mell.
Headlong; in reckless confusion. From the players of pallmall, who rush heedlessly to strike the ball. The “pall” is the ball (Italian, palla), and the “mall” is the mallet or bat (Italian, maglia; Latin, malleus). Sometimes the game is called “pall mall;” and sometimes the ground set apart for the game, as Pall Mall, Londo.
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It is not quite certain that pell-mell is the same compound word as pall-mall.
It is not quite certain that pell-mell is the same compound word as pall-mall.
