E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Pot-Pourri (French).
A mixture of dried sweet-smelling flower-petals and herbs preserved in a vase. Also a hotchpotch or olla podri’da. In music, a medley of favourite tunes strung together. (See PASTICCIO.)
1
Pourri means dead [flowers], and pot-pourri, strictly speaking, is the vase containing the sweet mixture.
