kilter — kil ter (k[i^]l t[ e]r), n. [Cf. Gael. & Ir. cealt clothes, Gael. cealltair spear, castle, cause, Prov. E. kilter tool, instrument. Cf. {Kilt}.] Regular order or proper condition. Same as {kelter}, but {kilter} is the more common spelling in the… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
kilter — (n.) in out of kilter (1620s) variant of English dialectal kelter (c.1600) good condition, order, of unknown origin … Etymology dictionary
kilter — ► NOUN (in phrase out of kilter) ▪ out of harmony or balance. ORIGIN of unknown origin … English terms dictionary
kilter — [kil′tər] n. [< ?] Informal good condition; proper order: now chiefly in out of kilter … English World dictionary
kilter — kil|ter [ kıltər ] noun off kilter or out of kilter slightly strange or crazy, or not right in some way: Things are really out of kilter in our relationship. out of kilter with different from something else, in a way that spoils a situation or… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
kilter — kil|ter [ˈkıltə US ər] n out of kilter/off kilter not working as well as usual ▪ Pollution has thrown the Earth s chemistry out of kilter … Dictionary of contemporary English
kilter — Kelter Kel ter, n. [Cf. Gael. & Ir. cealt clothes, Gael. cealltair spear, castle, cause, Prov. E. kilter tool, instrument. Cf. {Kilt}.] Regular order or proper condition. [Usually written {kilter} in th U. S.] [Colloq., chiefly British spelling]… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
kilter — noun out of kilter not working as well as usual: Things in my life seem all out of kilter lately … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
kilter — UK [ˈkɪltə(r)] / US [ˈkɪltər] noun off kilter out of kilter with … English dictionary
kilter — See: OUT OF KILTER … Dictionary of American idioms
