The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Helter-skelter \Hel"ter-skel"ter\, adv. [An onomat?poetic word.
   Cf. G. holter-polter, D. holder de bolder.]
   In hurry and confusion; without definite purpose;
   irregularly. [Colloq.]
   [1913 Webster]

         Helter-skelter have I rode to thee.      --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]

         A wistaria vine running helter-skelter across the roof.
                                                  --J. C.
                                                  Harris.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

helter-skelter
    adv 1: haphazardly; "the books were piled up helter-skelter"
           [syn: helter-skelter, every which way]
    adj 1: lacking a visible order or organization [syn: chaotic,
           helter-skelter]
    2: with undue hurry and confusion; "a helter-skelter kind of
       existence with never a pause"; "a pell-mell dash for the
       train" [syn: helter-skelter, pell-mell]