General
cattywampus (variant: catawampus)
What does cattywampus (variant: catawampus) mean?
In an older sense, a fearsome imaginary beast used to frighten, alongside its adjectival "askew" meaning.
"Behave, or the catawampus'll get you."
Origin
American, from 1843 as a name for an imaginary hobgoblin, perhaps influenced by "catamount" (mountain cat).
Frequently asked questions
What does cattywampus mean?
Historically it named an imaginary fierce beast used to scare people; today it more often means crooked or askew.
Is cattywampus the same as catawampus?
Yes, they are variant spellings of the same word, along with forms like kittywampus.
How do you use cattywampus?
Most commonly to describe something out of line or off-kilter, as in "the picture frame is hanging cattywampus."
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