catawampus

/ˌkætəˈwɑmpəs/

Etymology

The first part may be related to cater-corner. The second part may be related to wampish (“wriggle, twist about like a fish”).

adj

  1. Out of alignment, in disarray or disorder: crooked, askew.“"Waal, I noticed ez the aidge o' one o' them boards war sot sorter catawampus, ...".”
  2. Fierce, destructive.“There air some catawampous chawers in the small way too, as graze upon a human pretty strong; but don't mind them, they're company.”

adv

  1. Diagonally.
  2. Utterly.

noun

  1. A fierce imaginary animal, a bogeyman.