əˈwɒm adjective
1.
askew; awry.
2.
positioned diagonally; cater-cornered.
adverb
3.
diagonally; obliquely: We took a shortcut and walked catawampus across the field.
Also, cattywampus.
Origin:
1830–40 for earlier sense “utterly”; cata- diagonally (see cater-cornered) + -wampus, perhaps akin to wampish
1830–40 for earlier sense “utterly”; cata- diagonally (see cater-cornered) + -wampus, perhaps akin to wampish
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To catawampus
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
catawampus
1840, the sort of jocular pseudo-classical formation popular in the slang of those times.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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00:10
Catawampus
is always a great word to know.
So is bezoar. Does it mean:
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
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