by fits and starts

18 LETTERS · STARTS WITH B

by fits and starts is a valid 18-letter word worth 24 points in Scrabble and 25 points in Words with Friends.

SCRABBLE WORDS WITH FRIENDS

B3Y4F4I1T1S1A1N1D2S1T1A1R1T1S1

3 + 4 + 0 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 0 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 0 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 =24 PTS

DOUBLE WORD → 48TRIPLE WORD → 72

MEANING

What does by fits and starts mean?