catawampus
[ kat-uh-wom-puh s ]
/ ˌkæt əˈwɒm pəs /
adjective
askew; awry.
positioned diagonally; cater-cornered.
adverb
diagonally; obliquely: We took a shortcut and walked catawampus across the field.
Also
cattywampus.
Origin of catawampus
1830–40 for earlier sense “utterly”;
cata- diagonally (see
cater-cornered) +
-wampus, perhaps akin to
wampish
Words nearby catawampus
catatonia,
catatonic,
catatonic rigidity,
catatonic schizophrenia,
catatricrotism,
catawampus,
catawba,
cataño,
catbird,
catbird seat,
catboat
Example sentences from the Web for catawampus
Whenever the barometer goes up two points Catawampus must be remembered.