Cattycorner

/ˈkætikɔrnər/ adjective, adverb

Definition

Positioned diagonally across from something; situated at an opposite corner rather than directly across.

Etymology

Variant of catty-corner, itself a folk etymology of cater-cornered (from French quatre, meaning four, referring to the four corners). The word has unclear origins but likely comes from card game terminology or architectural description.

Kelly Says

The word 'catty-corner' is actually a linguistic mystery—scholars debate whether it really comes from 'quatre' (French for four) or if it's completely unrelated to cats, yet people have been using it with conviction for centuries.

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