hodgepodge

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See also: hodge-podge

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle English hochepoche, a variation of hochepot, from Old French hochepot, from Middle Dutch hutspot (beef or mutton cut into small pieces and mixed and boiled together in a pot), from hotsen, hutsen (to shake; jog; jolt) + pot (pot), equivalent to hotch +‎ pot. Compare German Low German Hüttspott (hodgepodge).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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hodgepodge (countable and uncountable, plural hodgepodges)

  1. A collection containing a variety of miscellaneous things.
    Synonyms: farrago, melange, mishmash; see also Thesaurus:hodgepodge
    His latest sculpture is a hodgepodge of kitchen clutter and scrap glued together.
    • 1653, Izaak Walton, The Compleat Angler
      Man's life is but vain, for 'tis subject to pain, / And sorrow, and short as a bubble; / 'Tis a hodge-podge of business, and money, and care, / And care, and money, and trouble.
  2. A confused mass of ingredients shaken or mixed together in the same pot.

Translations

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Verb

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hodgepodge (third-person singular simple present hodgepodges, present participle hodgepodging, simple past and past participle hodgepodged)

  1. (transitive, intransitive) To move or position in an erratic, disorganised manner.