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.]