I. ˈhəgə(r)ˌməgə(r), ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: origin unknown
1. : the act or practice of concealment : secrecy
had always had the impression that sex was sin … here it was treated without any hugger-mugger or snickering — A.W.Long
2. : a disorderly jumble : confusion , mumbo jumbo
engage in the hugger-mugger of international politics and moneymaking — H.R.Isaacs
apart from the effect of all this unwholesome hugger-mugger on their minds, there was the greater tragedy that they were being shortchanged educationally — Victor Boesen
II. adverb
: in secrecy or confusion
III. adjective
1. : of a clandestine nature : secret
an eventual hugger-mugger hanging — P.H.Newby
2. : of a confused or disorderly nature : jumbled
readers will be puzzled by what at first appears a completely hugger-mugger haphazard arrangement — Ralph Abercrombie
IV. verb
( hugger-muggered ; hugger-muggered ; hugger-muggering -g(ə)riŋ ; hugger-muggers )
transitive verb
: to keep secret : hush up
intransitive verb
1. : to act or confer stealthily
2. : to muddle around