rigmarole
rigmarole Lexical Profile
rigmarole Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A lengthy, overly complicated, and often tedious procedure or set of bureaucratic steps.
"We had to go through the whole rigmarole of filling out customs declarations and having our luggage inspected."
A long, rambling, incoherent, or nonsensical statement or story.
"When asked why he was late, he launched into a confusing rigmarole about a flat tire and a lost wallet."
Word Nuance & Usage
Often misspelled and mispronounced as 'rigamarole' with an extra syllable due to folk pronunciation, though 'rigmarole' remains the standard spelling in formal writing.
Word Origin & Etymology
Mid 18th century: an alteration of 'Ragman Roll', originally referring to a 13th-century scroll recording the homage of Scottish nobles to King Edward I of England, and later to a medieval game involving a roll of parchment with verses.