Adjective

(er)

Consisting of scraps; fragmentary; lacking unity or consistency.

(informal) Having an aggressive spirit; inclined to fight or strive.

* 2012 , Mark Rice-Oxley, Underneath the Lemon Tree

In those days PGS [Portsmouth Grammar School] was full of sadistic staff and scrappy boys called things like Smudger, Muzz and Titch.

*{{quote-magazine, date=2013-08-10, volume=408, issue=8848, magazine=(The Economist), author=Lexington

, title= Keeping the mighty honest , passage=The [Washington] Post's proprietor through those turbulent [Watergate] days, Katharine Graham, held a double place in Washington’s hierarchy: at once regal Georgetown hostess and scrappy newshound, ready to hold the establishment to account.}}

Adjective

(en adjective)

Jumping, or passing, from one thing or subject to another, without order or rational connection; without logical sequence.

* 1850 , , Chapter 25

To mend the matter, Hamlet's aunt had the family failing of indulging in soliloquy, and held forth in a desultory manner, by herself, on every topic that was introduced.

He wandered round, cleaning up in a desultory way.

I teach a class of desultory minds.

Out of course; by the way; as a digression; not connected with the subject.

I made a desultory remark while I was talking to my friend.

She made a desultory attempt at conversation.

Disappointing in performance or progress.

(obsolete) Leaping, skipping or flitting about, generally in a random or unsteady manner.