hippity

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English

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Etymology

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Fanciful extension hip, a regional variant of hop, +‎ -ety. Attested since the nineteenth century.

Adverb

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hippity (comparative more hippity, superlative most hippity)

  1. (informal) Unevenly; by hopping.
    • 1889, Carlisle B. Holding, Her Ben: A Tale of Royal Resolves, page 159:
      “W’at’ll de rab’its do w’en de pile am burnin’?” ¶ “Dey’ll jes hippity, skippity, an’ git hout, an’ now min’ I w’at tell yer,” replied the old negro.
    • 1955, Time & Tide[1], volume 36, page 1582:
      Sammy Squirrel slept inside the tortoise's house until nightfall and then he came out and, skippity-hippity, away he went to Owl's Barn.

Usage notes

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Frequently compounded or used in conjunction with the verb hop. See also hippity-hop, hippity-hoppity.