Med"ley (?), n.; pl. Medleys (#). [OE. medlee, OF. meslée, medlée, mellée, F. mêlée. See Meddle, and cf. MelÉe, Mellay.] 1. A mixture; a mingled and confused mass of ingredients, usually inharmonious; a jumble; a hodgepodge; -- often used contemptuously.

This medley of philosophy and war.

Love is a medley of endearments, jars,
Suspicions, reconcilements, wars.

2. The confusion of a hand to hand battle; a brisk, hand to hand engagement; a mêlée. [Obs.] Holland.

3. (Mus.) A composition of passages detached from several different compositions; a potpourri.

&fist; Medley is usually applied to vocal, potpourri to instrumental, compositions.

4. A cloth of mixed colors. Fuller.

Med"ley, a. 1. Mixed; of mixed material or color. [Obs.] "A medlé coat." Chaucer.

2. Mingled; confused. Dryden.

• a collection or mixture of complementary things
       a fruit medley
  
• (music) a collection of related songs played or mixed together as a single piece
       They played a medley of favorite folk songs as an encore.