From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishhiggledy-piggledyhig‧gle‧dy-pig‧gle‧dy /ˌhɪɡəldi ˈpɪɡəldi/ adjective UNTIDYthings that are higgledy-piggledy are mixed together in an untidy way SYN untidy —higgledy-piggledy adverb
Examples from the Corpus
higgledy-piggledy• Another problem is that the chains in polyacetylene are not neatly ordered, but convoluted and higgledy-piggledy.• They lay about higgledy-piggledy but were obviously intended to be set up as practice jumps.• She collected up the letters and stuffed them back, higgledy-piggledy, into their brown paper and cardboard nest.• Ideally it should be laid in a fine carpet and not in higgledy-piggledy lumps that bream can break down to easy mouthfuls.• These had been thrown into the Muniment Room in the most higgledy-piggledy manner over at least two centuries.• He glanced at all the bits of paper hanging higgledy-piggledy on the furniture and walls.Origin higgledy-piggledy (1500-1600) Perhaps from pig; because pigs gather closely together in groups 