The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #29353   Message #371253
Posted By: Burke
08-Jan-01 - 09:28 PM
Thread Name: BS: what's the difference between...?
Subject: RE: BS - what's the difference between.....
Perfesser, making things up is more fun than the OED, but here's one for ya, just ta keep ya happy:

higgledy-piggledy, adv., n., and a.
A. adv. Without any order of position or direction; in huddled or jumbled confusion and disorder; with heads and tails in any or every direction

1598 FLORIO, Alla rappa, snatchingly, higledi-pigledie, shiftingly, nap and run. Ibid., Alla rinfusa, pelmell, helterskelter, higledi-pigledie.

Other usages and spellings:
They ly higgledy piggledy, master, mistress, children, men and maid-servants alltogether.
Rashly, hand over-head, Hickletee-Pickletee.
Higglede-piggledy, all together, as Hoggs and Piggs lie.
set down at random, higgle-de-piggledy, whatever comes into his Noddle.
Pigs, on a march, do not subject themselves to any leader among themselves, but pass on, higgledy-piggledy, without regard to age or sex
An higglede piggedle of Preachers.