The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #10188 Message #2797940
Posted By: Q (Frank Staplin)
28-Dec-09 - 04:05 PM
Thread Name: Colloquialisms- Post & Define 'Em! Fun!
Subject: RE: Colloquialisms- Post & Define 'Em! Fun!
The old word cater, or catercorner, gets revised every which way but up (kittycorner, etc.).
Catawampus has a long history and several meanings and spellings. Dates refer to first known appearance in print.
-vigorously or completely. 1834
-vigorously chewed up. Douglass 1857
-a peculiar or remarkable thing. 1833
-ferocious. 1843
-to confuse, injure, or damage. 1839
-to move diagonally. 1902 (derived from catercorner)