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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

mishmash en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ˈmɪʃˌmæʃ/
  • (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Attested since the late 15th century, Middle English mysse masche, probably a reduplication of mash, although a Yiddish origin or influence has also been suggested. Cognates include Saterland Frisian Miskmask and German Mischmasch.

Meanings

  1. A collection containing a variety of miscellaneous things.
    • As for Mr. Pynchon’s conjuring of millennial New York, it’s a total mishmash. 2013 September 10, Michiko Kakutani, “A Calamity Tailor-Made for Internet Conspiracy Theories”, in New York Times:
    • He cites 'on-seat charging facilities', which he describes as pregviously^([sic]) being a "mishmash of some having them and not having them". 2025 July 23, Richard Wilcock, “A new dawn for the Electrostars”, in RAIL, number 1040, page 26:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
mish-mash alternative lexicographic
mishmashes Number=Plur lexicographic
mishmosh alternative lexicographic

Synonyms

cocktail · medley · clamjamfrey · hotchpot · rummage · mishmash · disjecta membra · gallery · motley · macedoine · crazyquilt · miscellanea · salad · anthology · omnium-gatherum · gatherum · horse and rabbit stew · bouillabaisse · jumble · potpourri · galimatias · oddments · mingle-mangle · welter · gallimaufry · slurry · Whitman's sampler · bric-a-brac · miscellany · catch-all · ragbag · olla podrida · patchwork quilt · smorgasbord · farrago · salmagundi · hodgepodge · mixed bag · melange · congeries · grab bag · olio · hotchpotch · mixture · job lot · pastiche · odds and ends

Translations (37)

cs mišmaš (a collection of miscellany) · gl miscelánea (a collection of miscellany) · ms rojak (a collection of miscellany) · nl allegaartje (a collection of miscellany) · bg миш-маш (a collection of miscellany) · la farrāgō (a collection of miscellany) · es mescolanza (a collection of miscellany) · ru вся́кая вся́чина (a collection of miscellany) · nl mikmak (a collection of miscellany) · yi מיש־⁠מאַש (a collection of miscellany) · sv mischmasch (a collection of miscellany) · fr fatras (a collection of miscellany) · ca farrigo-farrago (a collection of miscellany) · es fárrago (a collection of miscellany) · pt mistifório (a collection of miscellany) · ca poti-poti (a collection of miscellany) · pdt Wirwoa (a collection of miscellany) · gl maravalla (a collection of miscellany) · fr méli-mélo (a collection of miscellany) · ro adunătură (a collection of miscellany) · fi sekamelska (a collection of miscellany) · li misjmasj (a collection of miscellany) · pt confusão (a collection of miscellany) · cy cymysgwch (a collection of miscellany) · es mezcolanza (a collection of miscellany) · de Mischmasch (a collection of miscellany) · pl miszmasz (a collection of miscellany) · fr mélimélo (a collection of miscellany) · fr fouillis (a collection of miscellany) · id rojak (a collection of miscellany) · es amasijo (a collection of miscellany) · ga meascán (a collection of miscellany) · hu mismás (a collection of miscellany) · he מִישְׁמָשׁ (a collection of miscellany) · cs všehochuť (a collection of miscellany) · pt mixórdia (a collection of miscellany) · pdt Mischmausch (a collection of miscellany)

mishmash en · VERB

Pronunciation

  • /ˈmɪʃˌmæʃ/
  • (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Attested since the late 15th century, Middle English mysse masche, probably a reduplication of mash, although a Yiddish origin or influence has also been suggested. Cognates include Saterland Frisian Miskmask and German Mischmasch.

Meanings

  1. (transitive) To mix together, especially in a confused way.
  2. (intransitive) To become mixed together.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
mishmashes Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
mish-mash alternative lexicographic
mishmashed Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
mishmashed Tense=Past lexicographic
mishmashing Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
mishmosh alternative lexicographic