arsy-varsy
[ ahr-see-vahr-see ]
/ ˈɑr siˈvɑr si /
adjective
wrong end foremost; completely backward: an arsy-varsy way of doing things.
adverb
in a backward or thoroughly mixed-up fashion: The papers are all filed arsy-varsy.
Nearby words
arsm, arson, arsonist, arsphenamine, arsy, arsy-varsy, arsy-versy, art, art deco, art director, art film
Also ar·sy·ver·sy [ahr-see-vur-see] /ˈɑr siˈvɜr si/.
Origin of arsy-varsy
1530–40; probably alteration of Latin vice versa (see vice versa), with arse substituted to make a facetious rhyming compound; for Latin versa > varsy, cf. argal3
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019