Hugger-mugger

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: en, /ˈhʌɡ.əˌmʌɡ.É™/, /ËŒhʌɡ.əˈmʌɡ.É™/
• US IPA: en, /ˈhʌɡ.ɚˌmʌɡ.Éš/

Alternative forms

• huggermugger, {{3}}

Origin

Of unknown origin; perhaps from Anglo-Irish cuggermugger ("a whispering, a low-voiced gossiping"), from Irish cogair ("whisper"). Compare also .

Full definition of hugger-mugger

Adjective

1. Secret, clandestine, sly.
2. Disorderly, chaotic, confused.hugger-mugger doings

Synonyms

Noun

1. (archaic) Secrecy.
• 1599-1602, Shakespeare, Hamlet, act 4, scene 5We have done but greenly in hugger-mugger to inter him.Many things have been done in hugger-mugger.
2. Disorder.
• 1942, Rebecca West, Black Lamb and Grey Falcon (Canongate 2006), page 990:As we passed through the quadrangle the church was glowing more brightly than a pearl, like a lily in strong sunlight, in spite of all the scaffolding and hugger-mugger.

Adverb

1. Secretly.
2. Confusedly, in a muddle.