#2: Higgledy-Piggledy

Definition:

: confused, jumbled

About the Word:

Higgledy-piggledy is one of our older reduplicative expressions, dating back to the end of the 16th century, when it appeared in John Florio's Italian/English dictionary, A Worlde of Wordes. Higgledy-piggledy is offered as part of a definition of the Italian word tarabara, which reads in full as follows: "higledi-pigledie, helter-skelter, cricket a wicket."

It seems somewhat sad that most lexicographers no longer provide entire definitions made up of rhyming phrases, and also that the lovely cricket a wicket has fallen out of use.

Example:

"The maid is the mistress, the master's the man, for higgledy-piggledy now is the plan." — Mr. Pratt, Harvest-Home, 1805