Meanings
kelter1
- UKUSarchaicdialectaluncountableArchaic form of kilter (“(good) condition, form, or order; fettle”).
It was intimated to me that such "frivolousness" was out of kelter with the profession of a Christian.
1910, Alexander Irvine, From the Bottom Up2 more examples
Fiscal—Something has been out of kelter at Washington these two years with regard to the rigid application of appropriations, at least in the Indian Department.
1851, Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, Personal Memoirs Of A Residence Of Thirty Years With The Indian Tribes On The American Frontiers—All over, resemblance to a particular object, as a ship in bad kelter: "she's a privateer all over."
1867, William Henry Smyth, The Sailor’s Word-Book
kelter2
- obsoleteslanguncountableMoney.
By Jove, says my Lord, all my money is flown, […] Pray say, have you got any kelter to spare?
1818, The Squib-Book, a collection of the addresses, songs, squibs, and other papers issued during the contested election at Liverpool, 1818, page 14
kelter3
- UKdialectalobsoleteuncountableRubbish; trifle; hodgepodge.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with kelter
All rhymes →Anagrams
Cite this entry
kelter. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kelter
“kelter.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kelter. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “kelter,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kelter.
Source: kelter on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.