higgledy-piggledy
In utter disorder or confusionIn utter disorder or confusion; mixed up.
Meaning
1 senses(slang)In utter disorder or confusion; mixed up.
I can't find your memo since my desk is all higgledy-piggledy.
in utter disorder
Translations
2 languagesOrigin
A reduplicated rhyming compound. The Oxford English Dictionary suggests a possible link toA reduplicated rhyming compound. The Oxford English Dictionary suggests a possible link to pig, since the animals huddle in irregular groups, but notes that the connection is uncertain. First use appears c. 1598. The first part of the old alternative form, hoggledy-piggledy, may derive from the archaic Welsh hogldy, a hovel.
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Forms
more higgledy-piggledy, most higgledy-piggledy| Comparative | more higgledy-piggledy Lesson |
|---|---|
| Superlative | most higgledy-piggledy Lesson |
regular
Synonyms
6 synonyms- in utter disorder:disorderlyhugger-muggerjumbledtopsy-turvy
Word family
2 related wordsLessons for this word
2 lessons- A2Comparatives — Because it has a comparative form
- A2Superlatives — Because it has a superlative form
See also
neighbours in the dictionaryDictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.