helter skelter
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To run helter skelter, hand over head, in defiance of order.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “helter skelter” mean?
To run helter skelter, hand over head, in defiance of order.
Is “helter skelter” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.