hurry-scurry
[
hur
-ee-
skur
-ee,
huhr
-ee-
skuhr
-ee]
/ˈhɜr iˈskɜr i, ˈhʌr iˈskʌr i/
noun
1.
headlong, disorderly haste; hurry and confusion.
adverb
2.
with hurrying and scurrying.
3.
confusedly; in a bustle.
adjective
4.
characterized by headlong, disorderly flight or haste.
Also,
hurry-skurry
.
Origin
1725-35
Examples from the web for
hurry-scurry
He heard a chair overturned,
hurry-scurry
of feet, the hiss of water on tire.
British Dictionary definitions for
hurry-scurry
hurry-scurry
adverb
1.
in frantic haste
adjective
2.
hasty and disorderly
noun
3.
disordered haste
verb
(
intransitive
)
4.
to rush about in confusion
Word Origin
C18: reduplication of
hurry
; compare
helter-skelter
Word Origin and History for
hurry-scurry
1732, probably a reduplication of
hurry
formed with awareness of
scurry
.