So in general, the core meaning is "overturned; upside down" and the most common extending meaning is "in disorder". There's not too many which--as far as I can tell--clearly refer to a climate of Misrule. In general, I was trying to match register and onomatopoeic impact more than meaning.
Literal meanings
- "turned around
- ?, "back to front"
- "paws up"
- "above below"
- "direction above below"
- "midst through midst"
- "arse over tit" (okay, "base over head")
- "overturned up to the legs"
- "backrow riprow"
- "seven totter eight invert"
So in general, the core meaning is "overturned; upside down" and the most common extending meaning is "in disorder". There's not too many which--as far as I can tell--clearly refer to a climate of Misrule. In general, I was trying to match register and onomatopoeic impact more than meaning.