/ dɪˈʃevld; NAmE / ( especially BrE ) ( NAmE usually dish·ev·eled ) adjective
( of hair, clothes or sb's general appearance ) very untidy
SYN unkempt :
He looked tired and dishevelled.
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from obsolete dishevely , from Old French deschevele , past participle of descheveler (based on chevel hair, from Latin capillus ). The original sense was having the hair uncovered ; later, referring to the hair itself, hanging loose , hence disordered, untidy . Compare with unkempt .