mallemolen

Dutch

Alternative forms
  • malle molen

Etymology

Univerbation of malle molen or compound of mal (“silly, crazy”) +‎ -e- +‎ molen (“mill”).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˌmɑ.ləˈmoː.lə(n)/, /ˈmɑ.ləˌmoː.lə(n)/
  • Audio(file)
  • Hyphenation: mal‧le‧mo‧len

Noun

mallemolen f (plural mallemolens, diminutive mallemolentje n)

  1. (dated, dialect) carousel, merry-go-round [from 17th c.]
    Synonym: draaimolen
  2. (figurative) madhouse (overwhelming chaotic place, experience or situation)
  3. (obsolete) vortex [from 18th c.]
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