Desultory \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. [Obs.]
      
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            I shot at it [a bird], but it was so desultory that
            I missed my aim.                      --Gilbert
                                                  White.
      
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   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.
      
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            He [Goldsmith] knew nothing accurately; his reading
            had been desultory.                   --Macaulay.
      
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   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.
        
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