hitty-missy, adv. (a.)
(ˈhɪtɪ ˈmɪsɪ)
Also 6–7 hittie-missie, hit-I misse-I.
[app. from hit he, miss he, or hit I, miss I: cf. willy-nilly.]
Hit or miss: see hit v. 22; at random, at haphazard.
| 1553 T. Wilson Rhet. 47 b, Young boyes..which showte in the open and plaine feldes at all aventures hittie missie. 1565 Golding Ovid's Met. viii. (1593) 195 The hand of prince Meleager Plaid hittiemissie. 1602 Warner Alb. Eng. xiii. lxxvii. (1612) 319 Howbeit hit-I-misse-I, when was Speculation weake. 1611 Cotgr., Tombant levant, well or ill, hittie missie; here or there, one way or other. 1705 Hickeringill Priest-cr. iv. (1721) 238 Hittee Missee, happy go lucky, as the blind Man kill'd the Crow. a 1825 Forby Voc. E. Anglia, Hitty-missy, at random; hit or miss. 1897 F. Hall in Nation (N.Y.) LXIV. 357/3. |
B. adj. Random, haphazard.
| 1885 Pall Mall G. 28 May 3 This hitty-missy, ready-go-lucky fashion. 1894 Stead If Christ came to Chicago 338 The hitty-missy, hugger-mugger fashion. |