helter-skelter

== English == === Etymology === In form a reduplication (similar to hurry-scurry and harum-scarum, both with initial /h-/ and /sk-/); perhaps based on Middle English skelten ("to hasten; to raise an alarm"), or maybe related to Old High German skeltan (“scold”) from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kel- (“make noise, yell”), employed as a fossil word. === Pronunciation === (General American) IPA(key): /ˌhɛltɚˈskɛltɚ/ (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌhɛltəˈskɛltə/ Rhymes: -ɛltə(ɹ) Hyphenation: hel‧ter-‧skel‧ter === Adverb === helter-skelter (comparative more helter-skelter, superlative most helter-skelter) In confused, disorderly haste. ==== Translations ==== === Adjective === helter-skelter (comparative more helter-skelter, superlative most helter-skelter) Carelessly hurried and confused. ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== willy-nilly pell-mell === Noun === helter-skelter (countable and uncountable, plural helter-skelters) Confusion or turmoil. (chiefly British) An amusement ride consisting of a slide that spirals down around the exterior of a tapering central tower. ==== Translations ====