Catawampus
/ˌkætəˈwɑːmpəs/noun
An informal word meaning askew, awry, or badly out of alignment.
Did you know?Catawampus is an American dialect word first recorded in the 19th century, and its exact origin is uncertain, which makes it one of those rare words whose history is still partly in the dark.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
English
catawampus
“askew, crooked, or violently out of line”
19th Century
English
cattywampus
“a variant spelling and pronunciation with the same sense”
Unknown
English
cattywampus/catawampus
“origin uncertain; likely a colloquial American formation”
Modern English
English
catawampus
“informally crooked, tilted, or jumbled”
Explore more surprising origins