A mixture or assortment of different elements; in music, a piece combining several melodies or songs.
From Old French 'medlee' meaning combat or conflict, from 'mesler' (to mix). Originally described hand-to-hand combat where different fighting styles mixed together. The meaning evolved to describe any mixture, with the musical sense emerging in the 18th century.
The word 'medley' started as a term for medieval combat where warriors would mix different fighting techniques in chaotic battle. This martial origin explains why we still sometimes use 'medley' to describe confusing or jumbled situations, though it's more commonly associated with the harmonious blending of musical pieces.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.