rigmarole

rig·ma·role

noun \ˈri-gə-mə-ˌrōl, ˈrig-mə-\

Definition of RIGMAROLE

1

: confused or meaningless talk

2

: a complex and sometimes ritualistic procedure

Variants of RIGMAROLE

rig·ma·role also rig·a·ma·role \ˈri-gə-mə-ˌrōl, ˈrig-mə-\

Examples of RIGMAROLE

1. We had to go through the rigmarole of installing, registering, and activating the software before we found out it wouldn't work.
2. He just told us what to do without all the usual rigamarole.

Origin of RIGMAROLE

alteration of obsolete ragman roll long list, catalog

First Known Use: circa 1736

Related to RIGMAROLE

Synonyms: bafflegab, double-talk, gobbledygook (also gobbledegook), gibberish (also rigamarole), song and dance

Related Words: bureaucratese, computerese, educationese, governmentese, legalese, Pentagonese, psychobabble, technobabble; bombast, fustian, gas, grandiloquence, hot air, hype, oratory, rhetoric, wind

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Rhymes with RIGMAROLE

aureole, banderole, bannerol, barcarole, barrel roll, buttonhole, cabriole, camisole, capriole, caracole, carmagnole, coffee roll, croquignole, cubbyhole, decontrol, Demerol, Dover sole, escarole, exit poll, farandole, finger hole, fumarole, girandole, girasole, Grand Guignol, honor roll, innersole, in the hole, Jackson Hole, jelly roll, kaiser roll, lemon sole, meadow vole, methanol, micromole, millimole, monopole, muster roll, on a roll, on the whole, oriole, ostiole, oversoul, ozone hole, petiole, pick-and-roll, pigeonhole, protocol, rabbit hole, rock and roll, Seminole, totem pole, tracheole, vacuole, water hole