Shambles

Pronunciation

Origin

From Old English scamul. A borrowing from Vulgar Latin scamellum, diminutive of Latin scamnum ("bench").

Full definition of shambles

Noun

1. a scene of great disorder or ruin
2. a great mess or clutterThis website is a shambles.
3. a scene of bloodshed, carnage or devastation
4. a slaughterhouse
5. (archaic) a butcher's shop
• Jonathan SwiftAs to our city of Dublin, shambles may be appointed for this purpose in the most convenient parts of it, and butchers we may be assured will not be wanting...

Derived terms

• omnishambles
• shambolic

Verb

1. shambles

   (third-person singular of shamble)