topsy-turvy

[top-see-tur-vee] /ˈtɒp siˈtɜr vi/
adverb
1.
with the top where the bottom should be; upside down.
2.
in or into a reversed condition or order.
3.
in or into a state of confusion or disorder.
adjective
4.
turned upside down; inverted; reversed:
a topsy-turvy reflection.
5.
confused or disorderly:
a topsy-turvy classroom.
noun, plural topsy-turvies.
6.
inversion of the natural order.
7.
a state of confusion or disorder.
Origin
1520-30; perhaps variant of top syd turvye topside down (with loss of d before t); turvy, variant of tervy, equivalent to obsolete terve to turn over (cognate with Old High German zerben) + -y1
Related forms
topsy-turvily, adverb
topsyturviness, noun
British Dictionary definitions for topsy-turvy

topsy-turvy

/ˈtɒpsɪˈtɜːvɪ/
adjective
1.
upside down
2.
in a state of confusion
adverb
3.
in a topsy-turvy manner
noun
4.
a topsy-turvy state
Word Origin
C16: probably from tops, plural of top1 + obsolete tervy to turn upside down; perhaps related to Old English tearflian to roll over
Word Origin and History for topsy-turvy
adv., adj.

1520s, "but prob. in popular use from an earlier period" [OED], likely from tops, plural of top (n.1) "highest point" + obsolete terve "turn upside down, topple over," from Old English tearflian "to roll over, overturn," from Proto-Germanic *terbanan (cf. Old High German zerben "to turn round"). The Century Dictionary (1902) calls it "A word which, owing to its popular nature, its alliterative type, and to ignorance of its origin, leading to various perversions made to suggest some plausible origin, has undergone, besides the usual variations of spelling, extraordinary modifications of form." It lists 31 variations.

Slang definitions & phrases for topsy-turvy

topsy-turvy

adjective

Disordered; upside down (1528+)