Used when the speaker cannot or does not want to specify details, similar to 'something or other' or 'in some way or another'. Often implies a vague, roundabout explanation.
He was making some excuse or other.
Somehow or other, I managed to meet the deadline.
Rare kanji spelling; the kana form is strongly preferred.
Reduplicative phrase from 何とか (something or other) with the second part かんとか echoing the pattern, likely from 彼 (か) meaning 'that' in a vague sense.