willy-nilly

Meanings

Adverb

• Whether desired or not; without regard for the consequences or the wishes of those affected; whether willingly or unwillingly.
• Seemingly at random; haphazardly.

Adjective

• That happens whether willingly or unwillingly.

Origin

• From will I [or ye, he, or she], nill I [or ye, he, or she], meaning “if I am [or ye are, or he or she is] willing, if I am [or ye are, or he or she is] not willing”, that is, “whether I am [or ye are, or he or she is] willing or not”; see will, nill.