humpty-dumpty

noun

hump·​ty-dump·​ty
¦həm(p)tē¦dəm(p)tē,
-ti … ti
plural -es
often capitalized H&D
: something that once damaged can never be repaired or made operative again
the exchange crisis … that brought the Humpty-Dumpty of currency stabilization tumbling—Atlantic
people fled into their suddenly Humpty-Dumpty world—Robert O'Brien

Word History

Etymology

after Humpty-Dumpty, egg-shaped nursery-rhyme character who fell from a wall and broke into bits

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Dictionary Entries Near humpty-dumpty

humpty

humpty-dumpty

humpy

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Humpty-dumpty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humpty-dumpty. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

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