patchwork

patchwork
    n 1: a theory or argument made up of miscellaneous or
         incongruous ideas [syn: {patchwork}, {hodgepodge},
         {jumble}]
    2: a quilt made by sewing patches of different materials
       together [syn: {patchwork}, {patchwork quilt}]
    3: sewing consisting of pieces of different materials sewn
       together in a pattern
    

Patchwork \Patch"work`\, n.
   Work composed of pieces sewed together, esp. pieces of
   various colors and figures; hence, anything put together of
   incongruous or ill-adapted parts; something irregularly or
   clumsily composed; a thing patched up. --Swift.
   [1913 Webster]
    

54 Moby Thesaurus words for "patchwork":
      all sorts, assemblage, assortment, broad spectrum, check, checker,
      checkerboard, checkerwork, chessboard, colors in patches,
      confusion, conglomeration, crazy quilt, crazy-work, gallimaufry,
      harlequin, hash, hodgepodge, hotchpot, hotchpotch, jumble, magpie,
      marquetry, mash, medley, melange, mess, mingle-mangle, miscellany,
      mishmash, mix, mixed bag, mixture, mosaic, odds and ends, olio,
      olla podrida, omnium-gatherum, parquet, parquetry, pasticcio,
      pastiche, plaid, potpourri, salad, salmagundi, sauce, scramble,
      stew, tartan, tessellation, tesserae, variegated pattern,
      what you will