catawampus

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]

Pronunciation

[edit]
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˌkætəˈwɑmpəs/, /ˈkætəwɑmpəs/

Etymology 1

[edit]

The first part may be related to cater-corner. The second part may be related to wampish (wriggle, twist about like a fish).

Adjective

[edit]

catawampus (comparative more catawampus, superlative most catawampus)

  1. (US) Out of alignment, in disarray or disorder: crooked, askew.
    • 1885, Charles Egbert Craddock, Down the Ravine:
      "Waal, I noticed ez the aidge o' one o' them boards war sot sorter catawampus, ...".
Alternative forms
[edit]
Synonyms
[edit]
Derived terms
[edit]
Translations
[edit]

Adverb

[edit]

catawampus (comparative more catawampus, superlative most catawampus)

  1. (US) Diagonally.
  2. (US) Utterly.

Etymology 2

[edit]

Perhaps from catamount (cougar, puma, lynx), influenced by the adjective above.

Noun

[edit]

catawampus (plural catawampuses)

  1. (US) A fierce imaginary animal, a bogeyman.
Translations
[edit]

Adjective

[edit]

catawampus (comparative more catawampus, superlative most catawampus)

  1. (US) Fierce, destructive.
    • 1844, Charles Dickens, chapter 21, in The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit:
      There air some catawampous chawers in the small way too, as graze upon a human pretty strong; but don't mind them, they're company.

References

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]