higgledy-piggledy

Etymology 1
A reduplicated rhyming compound. The Oxford English Dictionary suggests a possible link to, since the animals huddle in irregular groups, but notes that the connection is uncertain. Attested since the late sixteenth century. The first part of the old alternative form, hoggledy-piggledy, may come from archaic, a hovel.

Adjective

 * 1) In utter disorder or confusion; mixed up.
 * I can't find your memo since my desk is all higgledy-piggledy.

Translations

 * Finnish: ,
 * French:, en
 * Hungarian: ,
 * Maori: tōroherohe
 * Polish:

Adverb

 * 1) In a confused, disordered, or random way.

Translations

 * French:, en
 * Greek:, ,
 * Italian:, a catafascio
 * Korean:
 * Swedish:
 * Ukrainian: хаотично

Noun

 * 1) A disordered jumble; a confusion.

Synonyms

 * See Thesaurus:hodgepodge

Etymology 2
Self-reference to the form of the word.

Noun

 * 1) A double-dactyl; a short poem with eight lines in dactylic meter.
 * 2) Any of various word games using rhyming compounds or dactylic words or phrases.
 * 1) Any of various word games using rhyming compounds or dactylic words or phrases.