catawampus
Americanadjective
-
askew; awry.
-
positioned diagonally; cater-cornered.
adverb
Usage
Where does catawampus come from? Catawampus, meaning "askew, diagonal," is first recorded in the 1830–40s. Originally, catawampus also meant "fierce." It's thought to be an American colloquialism influenced by the cater- in cater-cornered (or for many of us, kitty-corner) and wampish, Scottish for "flopping about."Many more amusing Americanisms await in our slideshow "These Wacky Words Originated In The USA."
Etymology
Origin of catawampus
First recorded in 1830–40 for earlier sense “utterly”; cata- diagonally ( cater-cornered ) + -wampus, perhaps akin to wampish
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We’re trying to find the balance again because it’s felt catawampus for a minute.
From Los Angeles Times
One set of shutters was missing and the other hung lopsided, like the whole house had been smacked catawampus.
From Literature
Zeus brings me to the beach shortly after passing a catawampus gazebo with several collapsed pilings.
From Washington Post
“We kind of got a little bit catawampus here.”
From Washington Post
Larger tables in the trapezoidal dining room are close and kind of catawampus.
From Seattle Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
