Hurdy-gurdy.—The origin of this word, which is quoted from no writer earlier than Foote, has not been explained. See Todd in v.
Hurly-burly.—This old word occurs in the well-known verses in the opening scene of Macbeth—
"When the hurly burly's done,
When the battle's lost and won"—
where see the notes of the commentators for other instances of it. There are rival etymologies for this word, but all uncertain. The French has hurlu-burlu. Nares in Hurly.
Hurry-scurry.—This word, formed from hurry, is used by Gray in his Long Story.
Nick-nack.—A small ornament. Not in the dictionaries.
Pic-nic.—For the derivation of this word, which seems to be of French origin, see "N. & Q.," Vol. vii., pp. 240. 387.
Pit-pat, or Pit-a-pat.—A word formed from pat, and particularly applied to the pulsations of the heart, when accelerated by emotion. Used by Ben Jonson and Dryden. Congreve writes it a-pit-pat.