Word-Built World: kilter

Newly discovered evidence of how the Leaning Tower of Pisa went off-kilter. Photo: Imgur

A.Word.A.Daywith Anu Garg

kilter

PRONUNCIATION:

(KIL-tuhr) 

MEANING:

noun: Proper or usual state or order.

ETYMOLOGY:

Of unknown origin. Earliest documented use: 1582.

NOTES:

This term is the quintessential negative fossil. We constantly find things off-kilter or out of kilter, but you rarely hear of something being in kilter.

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