what kind of word is "topsy-turvy" i mean.. there's a term for words like that. and can you add more exmples?

Question

im not asking for the meaning of topsy-turvy.. im asking for what kind/ classification of word is topsy-turvy belonging to.. my professor said it, i just can't remember it.

Answer 1

Such words are otherwise known as rhyming words or reduplicatives.

You'll find hundreds of examples on this web page:

http://www.celebratetoday.com/reduplicatives.html

Answer 2

It means, 'upside-down' and it's an idiom.

A few more examples:

'Higgledy-piggledy' = mixed up, in a mess;

'All at sea' = lost;

'Skylarking' = playing about

I can't think of any more but English is full of them.

Answer 3

willy-nilly
will-o-the- wisp
hocus-pocus