Des″ul‐to‐ry (?), a. [L. desultorius, fr. desultor a leaper, fr. desilire, desultum, to leap down; de + salire to leap. See Saltation.] 1. Leaping or skipping about.
I shot at it, but it was so desultory that I missed my aim. Gilbert White.
2. Jumping, or passing, from one thing or subject to another, without order or rational connection; without logical sequence; disconnected; immethodical; aimless; as, desultory minds. Atterbury.
He knew nothing accurately; his reading had been desultory. Macaulay.
3. Out of course; by the way; as a digression; not connected with the subject; as, a desultory remark.
Syn. — Rambling; roving; immethodical; discursive; inconstant; unsettled; cursory; slight; hasty; loose.