UNSTABLE
ADJECTIVES
► ACEY-DEUCEY complex, unstable, neither one thing nor the other → 1970s African-American sl.
► ALL OVER THE BOARD eccentric, unstable → 1960s sl.
► APEY crazy, unstable → 1950s US sl.
► COGGLETY shaky, unsteady, unstable, rickety → 19C Eng. dial.
► DIPPY foolish, unstable, silly; crazy, demented → 1899 US sl.
► JIGGERED irrational, unstable, crazed, deranged, not sound-minded having a ‘screw loose’ → 1895 Amer. dial.
► JIGGERY irrational, unstable, crazed, deranged, not sound-minded having a ‘screw loose’ → 1895 Amer. dial.
► LABILE apt to slip away; slippery, unstable → 1623 obs.
► LOOSE IN THE HAFT unstable, unreliable → .c1325 obs.
► LUBRICOUS shifty; unstable; elusive → 1646
► NUTSO stupid, unstable, eccentric → 1973 sl., orig. US
► OFF THE RAILS emotionally unstable → M19 sl.
► RACKETY unstable, falling to pieces, ready to collapse, wobbly → 1824 Amer. dial.
► RACKILY unstable, falling to pieces, ready to collapse, wobbly → 1967 Amer. dial.
► RACKLETY unstable, falling to pieces, ready to collapse, wobbly → 1967 Amer. dial.
► RICKETY-RACKETY shaky, dilapidated, unstable → 1968 Amer. dial.
► RICKLETY rickety, unstable, dilapidated, unsteady → 1969 Amer. dial.
► RICKLEY ► RICKLY loose, unstable, rickety, dilapidated → 1865 Sc.
► RICKY-RACKY shaky, dilapidated, unstable → 1968 Amer. dial.
► SHITTLE-WITTED fickle, flighty, unstable, unsteady → 1448 obs.
► SKETCHY confused, unstable, strange, unsettling → 1980s US students’ sl.
► SOMETIMESY fickle, moody, inconsistent; unstable, unpredictable → 1972 Amer. dial.
► SOMETIMEY fickle, moody, inconsistent; unstable, unpredictable → 1905 Amer. dial.
► TICKLE insecure, unstable, tottering, easily upset; ready to fall → 1579 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
► TICKLISH unstable, unsteady, unsettled, uncertain, fickle → 1606
► TIPPERTY unstable → 1825 Sc.
► TOLTER moving unsteadily; unsteady, unstable, tottering; insecure, precarious → 1423 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► UNGLUED unstable, emotional, lacking control → 1950s
► UP A TREE annoyed, emotionally unstable → 1910s sl.
► VARIOUS of persons: changeable in character; inconstant, unstable; fickle → 1636 obs.
► WANKLY unstable, wobbly, tottering; unsteady, not to be relied upon, precarious → 1795 chiefly Eng. dial.
► WEEHAW ► WHEEWHAW askew, crooked, uneven, shaky, unstable → 1894 Amer. dial.
► WEEWARY askew, crooked, uneven, shaky, unstable → 1894 Amer. dial.
► WEEWOPPY askew, crooked, uneven, shaky, unstable → 1894 Amer. dial.
► WHEEJAW askew, crooked, uneven, shaky, unstable → 1894 Amer. dial.
ADVERBS
► ASS OVER APPETITE upside down, unstable, head over heels, in confusion → 1956
► ASS OVER APPLE CART upside down, unstable, head over heels, in confusion → 1923
► ASS OVER HEAD upside down, unstable, head over heels, in confusion → 1888
► ASS OVER TIT upside down, unstable, head over heels, in confusion → 1939
► TICKLELY in an insecure or unstable manner → 1601 obs.
► TICKLY in an insecure or unstable manner → 1674 obs.
NOUNS
► TICKLENESS insecurity, instability; critical situation, precariousness; inconstancy; uncertainty → c1390 obs.
► VANE an unstable or constantly changing thing → 1588
NOUNS – PERSON
► BESERKO an unstable, eccentric person → 1982 US sl.
► BLOWTOP a violent, unstable person → 1930s African-American sl.
► CRANK a mentally unstable person; an unreliable, unpredictable person; a person who is obsessed by a single topic or hobby → 1833 US sl.
► DAMAGED GOODS an emotionally or mentally unstable person → 1990s sl.
► DING a mentally unstable person → 1929 US sl.
► EASTIE-WASTIE an unreliable or unstable person; one on whose word there can be no dependence → 1808 Sc. obs.
► JIGGER-HEAD one who is irrational, unstable, crazed, or deranged → 1895 Amer. dial.
► LOONY BIRD a person who is at least eccentric, at most mentally unstable or irrational → 1964 US sl.
► MADDY a psychologically unstable person; a lunatic → 1990s Aust. & Sc. sl.
► MOONCALF a fickle, unstable person → 1607 obs.
► NUTSO a stupid, unstable, or eccentric person → 1975 sl., orig. US
► SICKO a mentally unstable person, with overtones of sexual perversion; a pervert or someone with a warped or perverted sense of humour → 1970s sl.
► SKETCH one who looks or feels confused, unstable, or odd → 1980s US students’ sl.
► SKETCHBALL one who looks or feels confused, unstable, or odd → 1980s US students’ sl.
► SKETCHER one who looks or feels confused, unstable, or odd → 1980s US students’ sl.
► VANE an unstable or constantly changing person or thing → 1588
► WANGLER an unstable person → 1873 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► WHACKO an unstable or mentally ill person → 1970s sl.
► WIND-COCK a person of unstable disposition → 1905 Sc. (Bk.)
► WING-DING an unstable, crazy person → 1960s sl.
VERBS
► HAVE A FEW PALINGS MISSING FROM THE FENCE to be mentally unstable → 20C Aust. sl.
► NOT HAVE ALL ONE’S BUTTONS to be insane, crazy, or unstable → 1860 sl.
► UNBOTTOM to deprive of support or stay; to unsettle or make unstable → 1598 obs.
Lexicophilia 