1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1758. A. Murphy, The Upholsterer, ii. Ambassadors and Hair-Cutters, all higgledy-piggledy together.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1812. Johnson, Eng. Dict., s.v. Higgledy-piggledy, a cant word, corrupted from higgle, which denotes any confused mass, as higglers carry a huddle of provisions together.
1849. Dickens, David Copperfield, ch. xxii., p. 199. His name’s got all the letters in it, higgledy-piggledy.
1873. Miss Broughton, Nancy, ch. ii. We are all higgledy-piggledy—at sixes and sevens!
1876. M. E. Braddon, Joshua Haggard, ch. xvi. ‘If some of you will sit down,’ remonstrated Judith, ‘I’ll pour out the tea. But I don’t feel as if anybody wanted it while you’re standing about higgledy-piggledy.’
Higgler, subs. (old).—A hawker.
High, adj. (American).—Drunk. For synonyms, see Drinks and Screwed.
2. (colloquial).—Stinking; gamey (q.v.).; whence, by implication, diseased (as a prostitute); obscene in intention and effect.