kilter means chiefly in out of kilter: (good) condition, form, or order; fettle. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 84 out of 100.
kilter is pronounced /ˈkɪltə/.
Why “kilter” is a great word
KILTER — [Noun] A state of proper working order, alignment, or good condition, chiefly used in the phrases 'in kilter' and 'out of kilter'. It is a variant of the 17th-century English dialect word 'kelter' (meaning 'good condition, order'), of unknown origin; possibly related to 'kilt' (to tuck up) or Scots 'kilt' (a proper way, knack). Unlike 'balance', which suggests an equilibrium of forces, or 'fettle', which connotes a state of physical readiness, 'kilter' denotes the precise operational integrity of a system. It is the drawer that slides without a hitch, the silent orbit of gears within a watch, and the satisfying click of a door latch meeting its striker plate—a fragile, often unnoticed calibration that makes function possible, a temporary victory against the world's inherent tilt toward disarray.
Etymology
A variant of dialectal kelter (“good condition, order”), of unknown origin; possibly related to kilt (“to gather up (skirts) around the body”) (cognate with Danish kilte (“to tuck”)), or Scots kilt (“proper way of doing something, knack”) (probably from kilt (“a slope; a tilt”), possibly a variant of English tilt). In the 19th century, kelter was the more common form in the United Kingdom, while kilter was more common in the United States. Due to the influence of the latter, kilter is now the more prevalent form in all English varieties.
noun
- Chiefly in out of kilter: (good) condition, form, or order; fettle.“not in kilter”
- A hand of playing cards which is useless.