hugger-mugger

hugger-mugger
hugger-mugger also huggermugger, "secretly," 1520s, one of a number of similar-sounding reduplicated words in use around this time and meaning much the same thing, including hucker-mucker, which may be the original of the bunch if the root is, as some think, M.E. mukre “to hoard up, conceal.” Also Cf. M.E. hukmuck, late 15c., name of some sort of device for cleansing.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Hugger-mugger — Hug ger mug ger, n. [Scot. huggrie muggrie; Prov. E. hugger to lie in ambush, mug mist, muggard sullen.] 1. Privacy; secrecy. Commonly in the phrase in hugger mugger, with haste and secrecy. [Archaic] [1913 Webster] Many things have been done in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Hugger-mugger — Hug ger mug ger, a. 1. Secret; clandestine; sly. [1913 Webster] 2. Confused; disorderly; slovenly; mean; as, hugger mugger doings. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hugger-mugger — ► ADJECTIVE 1) confused. 2) secret. ► NOUN 1) confusion. 2) secrecy. ORIGIN probably related to HUDDLE(Cf. ↑huddle) and to dialect mucker «hoard money, conceal» …   English terms dictionary

  • hugger-mugger — I. noun Etymology: origin unknown Date: 1529 1. secrecy 2. confusion, muddle II. adjective Date: 1692 1. secret 2. of a confused or disorderly nature …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • hugger-mugger — /hug euhr mug euhr/, n. 1. disorder or confusion; muddle. 2. secrecy; reticence: Why is there such hugger mugger about the scheme? adj. 3. secret or clandestine. 4. disorderly or confused. v.t. 5. to keep secret or concealed; hush up. v.i. 6. to… …   Universalium

  • hugger-mugger — /ˈhʌgə mʌgə/ (say huguh muguh) noun 1. disorder or confusion; a muddle. 2. secrecy or concealment: in hugger mugger. –adjective 3. secret or clandestine. 4. disorderly or confused. –verb (t) 5. Obsolete to keep secret or concealed. –verb (i) 6 …  

  • hugger mugger — verb act stealthily or secretively • Derivationally related forms: ↑hugger mugger • Hypernyms: ↑act, ↑behave, ↑do • Verb Frames: Somebody s …   Useful english dictionary

  • hugger mugger — Synonyms and related words: airtight secrecy, all over, all over hell, anarchic, arsy varsy, ass backwards, back door, backstairs, balled up, black out, bollixed up, by stealth, censor, chaotic, clandestine, close secrecy, closeness, concealment …   Moby Thesaurus

  • hugger-mugger — 1. noun /ˈhʌɡəmʌɡə/ a) Secrecy. b) Disorder. 2. adjective /ˈhʌɡəmʌɡə/ a) Secret, clandestine. b) Disorderly, chaotic, confused …   Wiktionary

  • hugger-mugger — adjective 1》 confused; disorderly. 2》 secret. noun 1》 confusion or disorder. 2》 secrecy. Origin C16: prob. related to huddle and to dialect mucker hoard money, conceal …   English new terms dictionary

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