The story
From out of + kilter, kelter (“good condition, form, or order; fettle”). The latter word is of uncertain origin, but appears widely in a British dialect and also in the United States.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
out of kilter
out of kil·terToday it means: Askew, disturbed; not adjusted or working properly; out of order. Full definition →