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willy nilly

 - 2 dictionary results

wil⋅ly-nil⋅ly

[wil-ee-nil-ee]
–adverb
1. in a disorganized or unplanned manner; sloppily.
2. whether one wishes to or not; willingly or unwillingly: He'll have to do it willy-nilly.
–adjective
3. shilly-shallying; vacillating.
4. disorganized, unplanned; sloppy: willy-nilly work.

Origin:
1600–10; from the phrase will ye, nill ye. See will 1 , nill
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

willy-nilly 
1608, contraction of will I, nill I, or will he, nill he, or will ye, nill ye, lit. "with or without the will of the person concerned." The nill is from O.E. nyllan, from ne "no" (see no) + *willan "will" (v.). Latin expressed a similar idea in nolens volens.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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