piece ‧ meal /ˈpiːsmiːl/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Origin: piece + -meal 'by one part at a time' (11-19 centuries) (from Old English mælum ) ]
a process that is piecemeal happens slowly and in stages that are not regular or planned properly:
The buildings have been adapted in a piecemeal fashion.
a piecemeal approach to the problem
—piecemeal adverb :
The new fire regulations have been introduced piecemeal.