medley

 
Pronunciation: /ˈmɛdli/

noun (plural medleys)

  • a varied mixture of people or things: an interesting medley of flavours
  • a collection of songs or other musical items performed as a continuous piece: a medley of Beatles songs
  • a swimming race in which contestants swim sections in different strokes, either individually or in relay teams: the 400 m individual medley [as modifier]: the junior 4x50 m medley relay

adjective

archaic
  • mixed; motley: a medley range of vague and variable impressions

verb (past and past participle medleyed or medlied)

[with object] archaic
  • make a medley of; intermix: (as adjective medleyed or medlied) the medlied establishments of the native chiefs

Origin:

Middle English (denoting hand-to-hand combat, also cloth made of variegated wool): from Old French medlee, variant of meslee 'melee', based on medieval Latin misculare 'to mix'; compare with meddle