hurly-burly

[ hur-lee-bur-lee, -bur- ]

noun

, plural hurl·y-burl·ies.

1. noisy disorder and confusion; commotion; uproar; tumult.

adjective

1. full of commotion; tumultuous.

hurly-burly

/ ˈhɜːlɪˈbɜːlɪ /

noun

1. confusion or commotion

adjective

1. turbulent

Word History and Origins

Origin of hurly-burly¹

1520–30; alteration of hurling ( and ) burling, rhyming phrase based on hurling in its (now obsolete) sense of tumult, uproar

Word History and Origins

Origin of hurly-burly¹

C16: from earlier hurling and burling, rhyming phrase based on hurling in obsolete sense of uproar

Example Sentences

This hurly-burly,” said he, drawing her into a quiet eddy of the stream, “is no place for the communion of two twin souls.

From Project Gutenberg

The merchants were packing up their goods; housewives were secreting their silver; everywhere there was a hurly-burly.

From Project Gutenberg

In fact, there was a wild hurly-burly upon the bridge, which nearly deafened me.

From Project Gutenberg

In this hurly-burly of affright and excitement, the missionary compressed his lips to keep back the tugging smile.

From Project Gutenberg

And everybody slept soundly; that isnt surprising after the hurly-burly of the night before last; we were tired out.

From Project Gutenberg