hee·bie-jee·bies noun plural alsohee·by-jee·bies\ˈhēbēˈjēbēz\ Etymology: coined ab 1925 by Billy DeBeck died 1942 American cartoonist : a tense nervous jumpy condition produced by various causes (as strain, irritation, fear, worry) and sometimes marked by hallucinations : jangled nerves : jitters — used with the < the unrelenting hollow beat of the jungle drums gave them the heebie-jeebies >