ested, but none probable.

_Higgledy-piggledy._--"A cant word, corrupted from _higgle_, which denotes
any confused mass, as _higglers_ carry a huddle of provisions together"
(Johnson). It seems more probable that the word is formed from _pig_; and
that it alludes to the confused and indiscriminate manner in which pigs lie
together. In other instances (as _chit-chat_, _flim-flam_, _pit-a-pat_,
_shilly-shally_, _slip-slop_, and perhaps _harum-scarum_), the word which
forms the basis of the rhyming reduplication stands second, and not first.

_Hocus-pocus._--The words _ocus bochus_ appear, from a passage cited in
Todd, to have been used anciently by Italian conjurers. The fanciful idea
of Tillotson, that _hocus-pocus_ is a corruption of the words _hoc est
corpus_, is well known. Compare Richardson _in v._

_Hoddy-doddy._--This ancient word has various meanings (see Richardson _in
v._). As used by Ben Jonson and Swift, it is expressive of contempt. In
Holland's translation of Pliny it signifies a snail. There is likewise a
nursery rhyme or riddle:

"Hoddy-doddy,
All legs and no body."

_Hodge-podge_ appears to be a corruption of _hotch-pot_. It occurs in old
writers. (See Richardson in _Hotch-pot_.)

_Hoity-toity._--Thoughtless, giddy. Formed from the old word _to hoit_, to
dance or leap, to indulge in riotous mirth. See Nares in _Hoit_ and _Hoyt_.

_Hubble-bubble._--A familiar word, formed from _bubble_. Not in the
dictionaries.

_Hubbub._--Used by Spenser, and other good writers. Richardson derives it
from _hoop_ or _whoop_, shout or yell. It seems rather a word formed in
imitation of the confused inarticulate noise produced by the mixture of
numerous voices, like _mur-mur_ in Latin.

_Hugger-mugger._--Used by Spenser, Shakspeare, and other old writers. The
etymology is uncertain. Compare Jamieson in _Hudge-mudge_. The latter part
of the word seems to be allied with _smuggle_, and the former part to be
the reduplication. The original and proper sense of hugger-mugger is
secretly. See Nares _in v._, who derives it from _to hugger_, to lurk
about; but query whether such a word can be shown to have existed?

_Humpty-dumpty._--Formed from _hump_. This word occurs in the nursery
rhyme:

"_Humpty-dumpty_ sat on a wall,
_Humpty-dumpty_ had a great fall," &c.

_Hurdy-gurdy._--The origin of this word, which is quoted from no writer
earlier than Foote, has not been explained. See Todd _in v._

_Hurly-burly