helter-skelter Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite lacking a visible order or organization
    chaotic.
  2. adjective satellite with undue hurry and confusion
    pell-mell.
    • a helter-skelter kind of existence with never a pause
    • a pell-mell dash for the train
  3. adverb haphazardly
    every which way.
    • the books were piled up helter-skelter

WordNet

Hel"ter-skel"ter adverb
Etymology
An onomatpoetic word. Cf. G. holter-polter, D. holder de bolder.
Definitions
  1. In hurry and confusion; without definite purpose; irregularly. Colloq.
    Helter-skelter have I rode to thee. Shak.
    A wistaria vine running helter-skelter across the roof. J. C. Harris.

Webster 1913