What does "gallimaufry" mean?
A hash of various kinds of meats; a ragout.
Gallimaufry
/ɡa.lɪˈmɔː.fɹi/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A hash of various kinds of meats; a ragout.
- Grammar: gallimaufry is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: assemblage, assortment, clutter, confusion.
- Usage evidence: At length, having discussed in turn pilaus, keebaubs, ollas, and a legion of gallimaufrys not mentioned in the classic pages of Kitchener and Ude, the cook's brain became completely addled by the elaborate and conflicting directions bestowed upon him; […]
How to use "gallimaufry"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "gallimaufry" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "gallimaufry" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "gallimaufry" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "assemblage" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A hash of various kinds of meats; a ragout. countable, dated, uncountable
"At length, having discussed in turn pilaus, keebaubs, ollas, and a legion of gallimaufrys not mentioned in the classic pages of Kitchener and Ude, the cook's brain became completely addled by the elaborate and conflicting directions bestowed upon him; […]"
- 2 a motley assortment of things wordnet
- 3 Any absurd medley; an elaborate mishmash. countable, figuratively, uncountable
"[O]ur mother tongue, which truly of it ſelfe is both ful enough for proſe, and ſtately enough for verſe, hath long time beene counted moſt bare and barren of both. Which default, when as ſome endeuoured to ſalue and recure, they patched vp the holes with peeces and ragges of other languages; borrowing here of the French, there of the Italian, euery where of the Latine, not weighing how ill thoſe tongues accord with themſelues, but much worſe with ours: So how they haue made our Engliſh tongue a gallimaufrey or hodgepodge of all other ſpeeches."
Example
"At length, having discussed in turn pilaus, keebaubs, ollas, and a legion of gallimaufrys not mentioned in the classic pages of Kitchener and Ude, the cook's brain became completely addled by the elaborate and conflicting directions bestowed upon him; […]"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "gallimaufry"?
Common synonyms include: assemblage, assortment, clutter, confusion, conglomeration, farrago.
How do you use "gallimaufry" in a sentence?
At length, having discussed in turn pilaus, keebaubs, ollas, and a legion of gallimaufrys not mentioned in the classic pages of Kitchener and Ude, the cook's brain became completely addled by the elaborate and conflicting directions bestowed upon him; […]
How do you pronounce "gallimaufry"?
Pronounced /ɡa.lɪˈmɔː.fɹi/.
Etymology
From French galimafrée, from Old French calimafree (“stew of various kinds of meats”); further etymology uncertain, but possibly from a combination of Old French galer (“to have fun, to enjoy oneself”) and Old Northern French (Picard) mafrer (“to eat gluttonously”).