Definition of rigmarole

< rigidity

rigodon >

rig·ma·role    (rgm-rl) KEY  also rig·a·ma·role  (--m-rl) KEY 

NOUN:

1. Confused, rambling, or incoherent discourse; nonsense.
2. A complicated, petty set of procedures.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Alteration of obsolete ragman roll, catalog, from Middle English ragmane rolle, scroll used in Ragman, a game of chance : perhaps from Anglo-Norman Ragemon le bon, Ragemon the Good, title of a set of verses about a character of this name + Middle English rolle, list (from Old French, from Latin rotula, wheel; see roll)