catawampus

1 of 2

noun

cat·​a·​wam·​pus

plural -es

dialectal

: an imaginary fierce wild animal : bogey

catawampus

2 of 2

adjective

variants or less commonly catawampous

¦⸗⸗¦⸗pəs

1

dialectal : fierce, savage, destructive

2

dialectal : askew, awry, cater-cornered

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably alteration of catamount

Adjective

probably by folk etymology from catercorner

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