The term rigmarole refers to long, convoluted stories or procedures and originates from the Kentish colloquial alteration of the Middle English phrase ragman roll. This phrase referred to a parchment with character descriptions written on it, used in a gambling game where the scroll was unrolled and passages were read aloud. It seems that people in the Middle Ages had some interesting pastimes. The game, previously known as Rageman or Raggeman, has uncertain origins, but it is likely that the name came from one of the descriptions, which ultimately has French roots. The current definition of rigmarole evolved from the idea of rambling something off, eventually expanding to encompass time-consuming activities in general. According to Google NGrams, the term rigmarole gained popularity in the 1820s and 1830s and has recently seen a resurgence in usage.
