piecemeal

 
Pronunciation: /ˈpiːsmiːl/

adjective & adverb

  • characterized by unsystematic partial measures taken over a period of time: [as adjective]: the village is slowly being killed off by piecemeal development [as adverb]: many organizations have been built up piecemeal

Origin:

Middle English: from the noun piece + -meal from Old English mǣlum, in the sense 'measure, quantity taken at one time'