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#180677 12/04/08 02:04 PM
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Bobpa Offline OP
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What is the origin of kadywampus?(spelling may be incorrect)My father would use the word to describe something that was not positioned properly.

Bobpa #180683 12/04/08 04:53 PM
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"Caddywompus" is spelled about two dozen ways, though in my answer I will stick with the most common spelling, "catawampus," for sanity's sake. You're also right about it meaning "askew" or "awry." according to the Word Detective

tsuwm #180695 12/05/08 04:53 PM
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I am not too sure of the spelling either, but another use for the word according to my grandmother, God rest her, was for a dwelling or building on a diagonal direction across an intersection of two streets. One house on the northwest corner, and the other on the south east corner: one is catawampus from the other. I've heard it a nursing homes I visit in the same manner, so at least in the midwest, it must have been a familiar term among some of a generation or two past.


----please, draw me a sheep----
LukeJavan8 #180700 12/05/08 06:26 PM
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I would spell it cattywampus, but we always said kittycorner.


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as noted by the Word Detective (see above link), we're talking about two unique American idioms, variously spelled, but we can differentiate them as catawampus and catercornered, and note that catercornered is sometimes given as a second definition for catawampus. (phew.) link and link

tsuwm #180792 12/10/08 03:13 AM
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Whew--cattycornered definitions!

Josephine (catawampus) Friday (Hi, tsuwm--hope you don't mind!)

Jackie #180804 12/10/08 04:19 PM
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Whew is right!
I am certainly glad we solved that diagonal discussion.


----please, draw me a sheep----
LukeJavan8 #180805 12/10/08 04:22 PM
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Actually bobpa mentions something not positioned properly. I seem to be able to remember something along that line too. Sort of like "tilt" on pin ball: when using a level and the bubble does not line up it is cattywampus. HMMMMMMM!


----please, draw me a sheep----

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