any confusing or troublesome situation, especially one from which it is difficult to free oneself; entanglement.
Origin: 1645–55; < Dutch moeras, alteration (by association with moer marsh; compare moor1) of Middle Dutch maras < Old French mareis < Germanic. See marsh
"wet, swampy tract," 1655, from Du. moeras "marsh, fen," from M.Du. marasch, from O.Fr. marais "marsh," from Frank., possibly from W.Gmc. *marisk, from P.Gmc. *mariskaz "like a lake," from *mari "sea." The M.Du. word was infl. by Du. moer "moor" (see moor (n.)). Fig. use is attested from 1867.