[poh-poo-ree, poh-poo-ree] 
| 1. | a mixture of dried petals of roses or other flowers with spices, kept in a jar for their fragrance. |
| 2. | a musical medley. |
| 3. | a collection of miscellaneous literary extracts. |
| 4. | any mixture, esp. of unrelated objects, subjects, etc. |
| pot·pour·ri (pō'pŏŏ-rē') n. pl. pot·pour·ris
[French pot pourri (translation of Spanish olla podrida) : pot, pot; see potiche + pourri, past participle of pourrir, to rot (from Old French purir, from Vulgar Latin *putrīre, from Latin putrēscere; see putrid).] |
potpourri
in pottery, a decorative ceramic vessel with a perforated cover originally made to hold a moist mixture of aromatic spices, fruits, and the petals of flowers that was intended to produce a pleasant scent as the mixture mouldered. The vessel was later used for dried spices and petals. Ball-shaped ones, frequently made of metal, are known as pomanders. See also pouncet-box; vinaigrette
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pʊˈri