Hypertext Webster Gateway: "desultory"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

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.]

I shot at it [a bird], 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 [Goldsmith] 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.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

desultory
adj : marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose;
jumping from one thing to another; "desultory
thoughts"; "the desultory conversation characteristic
of cocktail parties"

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