hugger-mugger, adj., adv., n., & v.
--adj. & adv.
1 in secret.
2 confused; in confusion.
--n.
1 secrecy.
2 confusion.
--v.intr. proceed in a secret or muddled fashion.
prob. rel. to ME hoder huddle, mokere conceal: cf. 15th-c. hoder moder, 16th-c. hucker mucker in the same sense