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willy-nilly

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wil⋅ly-nil⋅ly

  [wil-ee-nil-ee]
Use willy-nilly in a Sentence
–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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wil·ly-nil·ly   (wĭl'ē-nĭl'ē)   
adv.  

  1. Whether desired or not: After her boss fell sick, she willy-nilly found herself directing the project.

  2. Without order or plan; haphazardly.

adj.  

  1. Being or occurring whether desired or not: willy-nilly cooperation.

  2. Disordered; haphazard: willy-nilly zoning laws.


[Alteration of will ye (or he), nill ye (or he), be you (or he) willing, be you (or he) unwilling.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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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