Haywire

WOTD - 1 May 2006    

English

Etymology

hay +‎ wire

"Haigh" + wire

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /'heɪ.waɪ.ə(ɹ)/, SAMPA: /"heI.waI.@(r)/
• (US) IPA: /ˈheɪ.waɪɚ/, SAMPA: /"heI.waI@`/

  Audio (US)	noicon
  (file)

Noun

Singular Haywire

Plural {{{1}}}

Haywire ({{{1}}})

1. Wire used to bind bales of hay.

Synonyms

• baler twine

Translations

wire used to bind bales of hay

Finnish: paalauslanka

Russian: вязальная проволока f.

Adjective

Haywire (comparative {{{1}}}, superlative {{{2}}})

Positive Haywire

Comparative {{{1}}}

Superlative {{{2}}}

1. Roughly-made, unsophisticated, decrepit (from the use of haywire for temporary repairs). Possibly originated because of frayed wires sitting near hay in a hot barn, which caused an explosion (The barn ceased to exist, and it was referred to as having gone "haywire"), or from tendency of slap-dash repairs done with scraps of bailing wire to fail catastrophically at times of mechanical stress.
2. Behaving erratically or uncontrollably, especially of a machine or mechanical process; usually used with the verb "go".
   • It was working fine until it went haywire and wouldn't stop printing blank sheets.
   • Those kids go haywire when they don't get what they want.

Related terms

• come unglued (verb)
• tearing up Jack
• lose one's cool
• blow up (emotionally)
• go bonkers (emotionally)

it:haywire kn:haywire ru:haywire fi:haywire ta:haywire vi:haywire zh:haywire