jumble

IPA^(key): /d͡ʒʌmbəl/

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  Rhymes: -ʌmbəl

From Middle English jumbelen, alteration of jumbren, jombren, a variant of jumpren, frequentative of jumpen (“to jump”), equal to jump +‎ -le. More at jumber, jump, jumper.

jumble (third-person singular simple present jumbles, present participle jumbling, simple past and past participle jumbled)

1. (transitive) To mix or confuse.
   • a. 1678 (date written), Isaac Barrow, “(please specify the chapter name or sermon number). Of Contentment”, in The Works of Dr. Isaac Barrow. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: A[braham] J[ohn] Valpy, […], published 1830–1831, →OCLC:

     Why dost thou blend and jumble such inconsistencies together?

   • 1847, Alfred Tennyson, “Prologue”, in The Princess: A Medley, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:

     Every clime and age jumbled together.

2. (intransitive) To meet or unite in a confused way.

   I tried to study, but in my half-awake state, all of the concepts seemed to jumble together.

jumble (countable and uncountable, plural jumbles)

1. A mixture of often unrelated things.
   • 1852 March – 1853 September, Charles Dickens, Bleak House, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1853, →OCLC:

     His voice was rich and mellow and he had so long been thoroughly persuaded of the weight and import to mankind of any word he said that his words really had come to sound as if there were something in them. But now he can only whisper, and what he whispers sounds like what it is—mere jumble and jargon.

   • 1961 May, B. A. Haresnape, “Design on the railway: Part Three”, in Trains Illustrated, page 301:

     The bufferbeam is another factor that must be carefully considered. The buffing and coupling centre is 3ft 5½in above rail level and the beam carries not only buffers and drawgear but a jumble of train connections such as jumpers and pipes.

   • 2017, David Stout, A Child is Missing:

     The newspaper letters, all capitals, made up a jumble of typefaces.

2. (uncountable, British) Items for a rummage sale.
   • 2014, Ben Isacat, How to Do Animal Rights, page 110:

     Hire a stall at a fair or sell your wares at a car boot sale. Adjust your jumble's price to something very reasonable and attractive for people to buy. Your income will depend on the quality and quantity of the jumble […]

3. (countable, British, informal) A rummage sale.
   • 1982, Hunter Davies, Flossie Teacake's Fur Coat:

     "That's a nice coat," said Bella. "I used to have one like that. Got it at a jumble. But it didn't suit me. You look great in it."

• See also Thesaurus:hodgepodge

• jumble sale

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

jumble (plural jumbles)

1. (archaic) A small, thin, sugared cake, usually ring-shaped.

• jumbal
• jumball