different between shambles vs messy

English

Etymology

From Old English s?amul. A borrowing from Vulgar Latin scamellum, scamillum (“little bench, ridge”), from Latin scamnum (“bench, ridge, breadth of a field”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??æmbl?z/

Noun

shambles (plural shambles)

1. work done in a poor fashion
2. a scene of great disorder or ruin
3. a great mess or clutter

   This website is a shambles.

4. a scene of bloodshed, carnage or devastation
5. a slaughterhouse
6. (archaic) a butcher's shop

   • Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

   • 1729, Jonathan Swift, A Modest Proposal

     As 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
• shambolism
• shambly

Translations

Verb

shambles

1. Third-person singular simple present indicative form of shamble

English

Etymology

From mess +? -y.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?m?si/
• Rhymes: -?si
• Hyphenation: messy
• Homophone: Messi

Adjective

messy (comparative messier, superlative messiest)

1. (of a place, situation, person, etc) In a disorderly state; chaotic; disorderly.

2. (of a person) Prone to causing mess.

3. (of a situation) Difficult or unpleasant to deal with.

Synonyms

(in a disorderly state): untidy, chaotic, disorderly, cluttered

Antonyms

• neat
• orderly

Derived terms

• messily
• messiness

Descendants

• ? German: Messie

Translations

Further reading

• messy in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• messy at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• Symes

Middle English

Noun

messy

1. Alternative form of messe