Green’s Dictionary of Slang

catawampus! excl.

also catawumpus!
[SE catawampus, a hobgoblin or imaginary demon; in turn ? f. 17C catamount, a panther]

(US) a general excl., often as great catawampus!

Show quotations
C.H. Matschat Suwannee River 19: At her refusal, he drank deeply ‘Catawumpus! Kin lick my weight in wildcats, after that.’ [Ibid.] Great catawumpus! [DARE].