DCHP-1 Online
haywire ((adj.)) [< n.] Slang 
adj. Esp. Lumbering poorly organized and equipped; less than efficient; second-rate.
See also: gunnysack
- 1925 One hay-wire sawmill, Nice location, Ten mile haul To shipping station.
- 1942 HAYWIRE. An allusion to the farm practice of repairing machinery with the light wire used to bale hay and straw. Any piece of equipment not up to the peak of operation efficiency is haywire to a logger.
- 1960 Neither does it [gyppo] denote shoddy equipment. There's another name for that--the haywire outfit.
- 1925 One hay-wire sawmill, Nice location, Ten mile haul To shipping station.