Hugger-mugger

subs. (colloquial).—Muddle; confusion.

  1868.  C. READE and BOUCICAULT, Foul Play, ch. vii. Why did n’t you tell me, and I ’d have tidied the room: it is all HUGGERMUGGER, with Miss a leaving.

  1885.  T. E. BROWN, The Doctor, p. 36.

  1892.  Pall Mall Gazette, 28 Oct., p. 2, c. 2. He wrote some lampoons in the papers at the time, in which he ridiculed the HUGGER-MUGGER of the prosecution.

  Adv. (old).—See quots.

  c. 1696.  B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. HUGGER-MUGGER, Closely or by Stealth, Underboard: To eat so, that is, to Eat by one’s self.

  1786.  GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. HUGGER MUGGER. By stealth, privately, without making an appearance. They spent their money in a HUGGER MUGGER way.

  Adj. (common).—Confused; disorderly; hap-hazard; HAND-TO-MOUTH (q.v.).

  1882.  Daily Telegraph, 5 Oct., p. 2, c. 2. Nor can they be very severely blamed for this HUGGER-MUGGER, slipshod way of life.

  Verb. (common).—To meet by stealth; to lay heads together.

  1879.  JUSTIN MCCARTHY, Donna Quixote, ch. xxxii. I can see already that she won’t stand much more of you and me HUGGER-MUGGERING together.

  IN HUGGER-MUGGER, adv. phr. (old).—1.  In secret.

  1565.  STAPLETON, A Fortresse of the Faith, fol. 88. They should not have lurked all this while IN HUCKER-MUCKER.

  1588.  J. UDALL, A Demonstration of the trueth of that Discipline, etc., p. 30. (ed. ARBER). The Byshop without any lawfull election, is chosen IN HUGGERMUGER of the canons, or prebendaries onely, without the knowledge of the people.

  1594.  NASHE, The Unfortunate Traveller (GROSART, Works, v., 19). Myself that am but a poore childish wel-willer of yours, with the vain thought that a man of your desert and state by a number of pesants and varlets should be so incuriously abused in HUGGER-MUGGER haue wept al my vrine upward. Ibid. (1596) Have with You to Saffron-Walden (GROSART, Works, iii., 181). Hee sent her 18 pence IN HUGGER MUGGER, to pay the fiddlers.

  1596.  SHAKESPEARE, Hamlet, iv. 5.

  1602.  DEKKER, Satiromastix, iii., 133 (DODSLEY, Old Plays, viii., 48). One word, sir Quintilian, in HUGGER-MUGGER.

  1607.  TOURNEUR, The Revenger’s Tragedy (DODSLEY, Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, v., 1). And how quaintly he died like a Politician in HUGGER-MUGGER.

  1611.  CORYATE, Crudities, ii., p. 251, repr. So these perhaps might sometimes have some furtive conversation IN HUGGER MUGGER.

  1633.  FORD, ’Tis Pity She’s a Whore, ii., 1. There is no way but to clap up a marriage IN HUGGER-MUGGER.

  1639–61.  Rump Songs, i. [1662], 54. They brought me Gold and Plate in HUGGAR-MUGGAR.

  1663.  BUTLER, Hudibras, i., 3, 267.

  1762.  CHURCHILL, The Ghost, bk. iii., line 27.

  1815.  The Mirrour for Magistrates, p. 457.