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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 771
old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 771 |
I ran across the term "catercorner" in my current read ~ and that's the first I've seen of that word. I knew instantly what he meant, but I've only heard "cattycorner" or "kittycorner". Is this a regionalism? How did felines come to be associated with diagonal crossings?
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Dear FB: here's what I found:
The first element of the word, "cata," is probably related to "cater," also found in the related word "catercorner" (or, as many folks know it, "cattycorner" or "kittycorner"). "Cater" in these words is an Anglicization of the French "quatre," or "four," and "catercornered" originally just meant "four-cornered." To specify that something is "catercorner across" from something else is to stress the diagonal axis of an imaginary box, as opposed to saying "directly across" or just "across." Both "catercorner" and "catawampus" are native American colloquialisms dating back to the 1880's or earlier
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 771
old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 771 |
Of course - cater -> quatre! Why didn't I think of that? I'm still curious about the introduction of the feline element... And "catawampus" (or as my mom always said it "cattywampus") makes total sense in that context too... You're a star, Bill! 
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624 |
Yup, JW, I have to agree, Bill's some kinda star. A red dwarf comes to mind ...
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230 |
Now, Pfranz, don't be such a smeghead about the Doc. After all, every ship has to have its Rimmer.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624 |
Yeah, but while he's listering to starboard I can't help listering into the port ...
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
On the Hertzsprung-Rusell diagram, a red dwarf holds a position quite superior to that of a pair of brown dwarfs.
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400 |
meanwhile, (ignoring all the petty bickering below!) this came up years ago. so if you are adventurous, or brave, or have a couple of hours to spare, you could search for catty corner, or kittycorner, in threads at least 2 years back, and find a lively discussion.
i am almost sure it was in Q & A, but it could have been in word play, or misc. a quick way to date it is to see when you joined, since it was before your time, (but after mine!) that might be only a few months of threads to look through!
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 771
old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 771 |
Oh, I was sure it had been discussed before, whether before I joined or during my hiatus ~ but I figured it would either generate some interesting discussion or provide Pfranz an opportunity to pick on Bill, one. Or both.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
I am concerned that suggesting that new members should read
all the old posts, or that they should always search before they post, may contribute to driving new members away,
and discouraging oldtimers from returning.
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