This expression, meaning “diagonally opposite,” was formed from a misspelling in English of the French word quatre (“four”) prefixed to “corner.” Although the word has nothing to do with cats or kittens, in various dialects all three spellings are acceptable: “catty,” “cater” or “kitty.”

Is the saying kitty-corner or catty-corner?

Garner's Modern English Usage lists “kitty-corner” as the most common phrase, closely followed by “catty-corner,” with “cater-corner” a distant third. Even less common, Garner's says, are the past participial forms, with “catty-corner” outperforming “catty-cornered” 5 to 1.

What does it mean to be catty-corner?

: in a diagonal or oblique position the house stood kitty-corner across the square.