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Willy-nilly

//ˌwɪl.iːˈnɪl.iː// adj, adv

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    That happens whether willingly or unwillingly.

    "[S]omeone saw thy willy-nilly nun / Vying a tress against our golden fern."

  2. 2
    Seemingly random; haphazard; arbitrary.
Adverb
  1. 1
    Whether desired or not; without regard for consequences or wishes of those affected; whether willingly or unwillingly.

    "Some writers chasing money churn out novels willy-nilly."

  2. 2
    Seemingly at random; haphazardly. idiomatic

    "The novel Alice in Wonderland describes a place where things happen willy-nilly."

Adverb
  1. 1
    in a random manner wordnet
  2. 2
    without having a choice wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From will I, nill I (also with ye or he instead of I), meaning “[if] I am/ye are/he is willing, [or if] I am/ye are/he is not willing.” See will (“to desire, to wish, to be willing”), nill (“to not desire, to not wish, to be unwilling”). Compare Latin velim nōlim (“if I desire it or not”, “willy nilly”).

Etymology 2

From will I, nill I (also with ye or he instead of I), meaning “[if] I am/ye are/he is willing, [or if] I am/ye are/he is not willing.” See will (“to desire, to wish, to be willing”), nill (“to not desire, to not wish, to be unwilling”). Compare Latin velim nōlim (“if I desire it or not”, “willy nilly”).

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