shambles

sham·bles

noun plural but singular or plural in construction \ˈsham-bəlz\

Definition of SHAMBLES

1

archaic : a meat market

2

: slaughterhouse

3

a : a place of mass slaughter or bloodshed <the battlefield became a shambles>

b : a scene or a state of great destruction : wreckage <the city was a shambles after the bombing>

c (1) : a scene or a state of great disorder or confusion <an economy in shambles> (2) : great confusion : mess

Origin of SHAMBLES

Middle English shameles, plural of schamel vendor's table, footstool, from Old English sceamol stool, from Latin scamillum, diminutive of scamnum stool, bench; perhaps akin to Sanskrit skambha pillar

First Known Use: 15th century