Green’s Dictionary of Slang

topsy-versy adv.

upside down.

1767		[D. Garrick] Peep Behind the Curtain 10: Saunders: [D]amn all these new vagaries , that put us all upon our heads topsy versy.
1783		G.W. Lemon Eng. Ety. n.p.: topsy-turvy [...] All our etymol. and diction. can explain this expression, but none have given a satisfactory deriv. [...] [which is perhaps] a contraction of top turned deorsum, versus; top turn’d versus or topsy-versy.
1906		H. Strang In Clive’s Command 274: Me and Barker en’t friends: leastways not on speakin’ terms; which I will say, hang Captain Barker, topsy-versy, any way you like.
1911		J. Masefield Everlasting Mercy 46: Joe, and Si, and Nick, and Percy, / rolled together topsy versy.
1942		S.V. Benet ‘For City Spring’ in Sel. Works 455: Turneth Moral topsy-versy, / Bringeth he and she to bed, / Bringeth ill to maidenhead, / Bringeth joyance in its stead.
1945		T.H. Raddall Tambour 202: We was topsy-versy afore ye could say Boo.