Dictionary

catawampus en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˌkætəˈwɑmpəs/ (US)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈkætəˌwɑmpəs/ (US)

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. (US) Out of alignment, in disarray or disorder: crooked, askew.
   • "Remember when Justin missed the T in the software code and tanked the reports for the client. What a catawampus that was.". (Can we date this quote?), (Please provide the book title or journal name):
   • "Waal, I noticed ez the aidge o' one o' them boards war sot sorter catawampus, ...". 1885, Charles Egbert Craddock, Down the Ravine:

Forms

Deriveds

catawampusly

Synonyms

sigogglin (out of alignment) · askew (out of alignment) · skiwampus (out of alignment) · skewampus (out of alignment) · awry (out of alignment) · fierce (fierce, destructive) · crooked (out of alignment) · off-kilter (out of alignment) · destructive (fierce, destructive)

Translations (10)

pl skośny (out of alignment, crooked, cater-corner) · pl dziki (fierce, destructive) · de kreuz und quer (out of alignment, crooked, cater-corner) · pl brutalny (fierce, destructive) · sh dođavola (out of alignment, crooked, cater-corner) · pl niszczycielski (fierce, destructive) · sh dođavola (fierce, destructive) · sh k vragu (out of alignment, crooked, cater-corner) · pl ukośny (out of alignment, crooked, cater-corner) · sh k vragu (fierce, destructive)

catawampus en · ADV · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˌkætəˈwɑmpəs/ (US)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈkætəˌwɑmpəs/ (US)

Etymology

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

Meanings

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

Forms

Translations (3)

pl ukośnie (diagonally) · pl na skos (diagonally) · pl kompletnie (utterly)

catawampus en · ADJ · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /ˌkætəˈwɑmpəs/ (US)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈkætəˌwɑmpəs/ (US)

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. (US) Fierce, destructive.
   • 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. 1844, Charles Dickens, chapter 21, in The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit:

Forms

catawampus en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /ˌkætəˈwɑmpəs/ (US)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈkætəˌwɑmpəs/ (US)

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. (US) A fierce imaginary animal.
   • But speaking scientifickly, the wowser is a cross Between the cattywampus and and the dry-land albatross With parts of grizzly bear throwed in, and just enough of 'coon To give him rings around his tail, like rings around the moon. 1968, Squire Omar Barker, Rawhide Rhymes: Singing Poems of the Old West, page 10:

Forms

Translations (2)

pl licho (fierce imaginary animal) · pl straszydło (fierce imaginary animal)