'hotchpotch' originates from Anglo-Norman/French, specifically the word 'hochepot', where 'hoche-' meant 'to shake' and 'pot' meant 'pot' or 'dish'.

'hotchpotch' changed from the Anglo-Norman/French 'hochepot' (a stew or mixed dish) into Middle English 'hotchpot' (also used in law for mixing of claims) and eventually became the modern English 'hotchpotch' (and related variant 'hodgepodge').

Initially, it meant 'a stew or mixed dish' (literal mixture), but over time it evolved into its current general meaning of 'a confused mixture; hodgepodge'.