Definify.com

Webster 1828 Edition

Noun.

[L. scamnum a bench; from L. scando.]

1. The place where butcher's meat is sold; a flesh-market.

2. In mining, a nich or shelf at suitable distances to receive the ore which is thrown from one to another, and thus raised to the top.

shambles ‎(uncountable)

work done in a poor fashion
a scene of great disorder or ruin
a great mess or clutter
This website is a shambles.
a scene of bloodshed, carnage or devastation
a slaughterhouse
(archaic) a butcher's shop
- Jonathan Swift
  As to our city of Dublin, shambles may be appointed for this purpose in the most convenient parts of it, and butchers we may be assured will not be wanting […]

a scene of great disorder or ruin

a great mess or clutter

Japanese: 大混乱 ‎(daikonran)
Maori: kūnakunaku
Russian: неразбери́ха (ru) f ‎(nerazberíxa), беспоря́док (ru) m ‎(besporjádok), каварда́к (ru) m ‎(kavardák), барда́к (ru) m ‎(bardák), пу́таница (ru) f ‎(pútanica)
Swedish: röra (sv) c

a scene of bloodshed, carnage or devastation

a slaughterhouse

(archaic) a butcher's shop

shambles