English Explanatory Dictionary

hugger-mugger

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Secret, clandestine, sly.
  2. Disorderly, chaotic, confused.
noun
  1. Secrecy.
  2. Disorder.
adv
  1. Secretly.
  2. Confusedly, in a muddle.
verb
  1. To meet or act secretly.

Pronunciation

/ˈhʌɡ.əˌmʌɡ.ə/ /ˌhʌɡ.əˈmʌɡ.ə/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-hugger-mugger.wav /ˈhʌɡ.ɚˌmʌɡ.ɚ/

Word forms

hugger-mugger more hugger-mugger most hugger-mugger huggermugger hucker-mucker hoker-moker hugger-muggers hugger-muggering hugger-muggered

Etymology

Unknown; perhaps from Anglo-Irish cuggermugger (“a whispering, a low-voiced gossiping”), from Irish cogar (“whisper”). Compare also Scots hudge-mudge, hody-moke, Swedish mjugg (“stealth, secrecy”).

Synonyms

abstruse behind the scenes catlike backroom stealth clandestine cloak-and-dagger concealed confidential covert deep-laid dern disguised furtive huggermugger hush-hush inconspicuous incognito low profile lurksome lurky mousy obfuscated off-the-books on the down-low on the sly secret secretive slinky sly sneaky stealthy sub rosa surreptitious under-the-table under the radar under wraps undercover underground unperceived

Related words

hudder-mudder

Derived words

hugger-muggery
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