Ramshackle
/ˈɹæmˌʃæk.əl/ adj, verb
adj, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To ransack. obsolete, transitive
Adjective
- 1 In disrepair or disorder; poorly maintained; lacking upkeep, usually of buildings or vehicles.
"They stayed in a ramshackle cabin on the beach."
- 2 Badly or carelessly organized.
"So ramshackle was the locals' attempt at defence that, with energetic wingers pouring into the space behind panicked full-backs and centre-halves dizzied by England's movement, it was cruel to behold at times."
Adjective
- 1 in deplorable condition wordnet
Example
More examples"The suspect was hiding in one of those ramshackle buildings near the pier."
Etymology
First attested in 1830, a back-formation from ramshackled, from ransackled, past participle of ransackle (“to ransack”), frequentative of Middle English ransaken (“to pillage”).