Hurly-Burly
/ˈhɜːrli ˈbɜːrli/noun
A noisy, disorderly commotion or uproar.
Did you know?The phrase is famously used in Macbeth, where it helps conjure the violent, supernatural atmosphere of the witches’ world, but its exact origin is probably just expressive rhyming rather than a hidden occult code.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
English
hurly-burly
“A noisy confusion, uproar, or tumult.”
16th Century
English
hurly
“A state of confusion or commotion; likely an expressive formation.”
16th Century
English
burly
“Not the modern adjective for a stout person, but part of a rhyming, emphatic sound pattern used to suggest bustle and disorder.”
Modern English
English
hurly-burly
“A noisy, disorderly commotion or uproar.”