Opinions Wanted: Is "Katty Corner" Still a Cromulent Term?

So here's the back story: While in conversation with some folks I used the term "katty corner" to describe the location of a store, as in "it's in the shopping center katty corner to the Target shopping center." There was a teenager among us who immediately laughed at the phrase and thought I had made it up... I assured him it was a perfectly cromulent phrase... but even his parents said they had never heard of it. What cracked me up is that the kid knew what "cromulent" meant, but not katty corner! Anyway, it is defined by Dictionary.com, though I spell it with a "k" and they spell it with a "c"...

Catty Corner:

adjective
1. diagonal.

adverb
2. diagonally.

Also, catercorner, cater-corner, catty-corner, catty-cornered, kitty-corner, kitty-cornered.

And, for what its worth, Cromulent (which actually is a made up word that came from "The Simpsons"):

adjective fine, acceptable
Usage Note slang

I wasn't especially surprised that the kid hadn't heard the phrase, especially since his parents hadn't heard it... but I was surprised about his parents. My son suspects the parents did know, but were playing dumb for their obnoxious son's sake.

So my oh-so-profound question: Is katty corner an obsolete term? Or is it still a cromulent phrase to use? And if not "katty corner," then what -- if any -- would be a proper term? (Other than simply "diagonal.")

Full disclosure: My son and I have a bet riding on your responses. If more responses say it's still cromulent, then I owe him beef stew... If more responses say it's obsolete, then he owes me steak Diane... I'm not really stuck on either result. I figure I win both ways, since either way it's dinner with my son!

a reply to: Boadicea

I hear it used regularly.

a reply to: Boadicea

I grew up hearing 'catty corner', but have heard people use the term 'kitty corner'.

a reply to: Boadicea

Cromulent nostalgia.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus
a reply to: butcherguy

Thanks for weighing in.

I should have mentioned that in thinking about it, I couldn't remember hearing it used recently... but I'm not sure I would take note anyway, since it is a familiar term to me. That's what has me intrigued about it all. I don't know if it's me or them!

a reply to: Boadicea

I have heard kitty corner more than catty corner, but I have never said either myself. I hear people use the term less and less.

a reply to: threeifbyair

Nostalgia -- LOL! I'll take that as a vote for me... and steak Diane

Thanks!

a reply to: Boadicea

I've always used the words "Kitty Corner", but I've heard Katty Corner used too. I've never heard of the word cromulent before.

a reply to: reldra

Thank you!

It seems to me that the term is used less and less too. That's what got me thinking...

a reply to: EchoesInTime

Thank you. I think I've heard "kitty" corner before too. Kind of made me wonder if that's why in my head I spell it with a "k." The more I think about it, the more I wonder about it all.

I'm not surprised you haven't heard of "cromulent," since it was made up for The Simpsons. My husband is a big fan of The Simpsons, so that's how I heard it -- and probably most folks who heard it.

a reply to: Boadicea

I always used kitty-corner to describe a diagonal location across a 4 corner intersection. Apparently either kitty or catty corner can be used after a brief look on the internet. Apparently from Miriam Webster, cromulent means acceptable, but I've never heard it used before lol

10 Perfectly Cromulent Words ... meaning "to make great." Both cromulent and embiggen have been quite successful, and stand an excellent chance of one day being used ...

Cheers - Dave

a reply to: bobs_uruncle

Thanks! That's close enough...

I think for these purposes, I will have to accept "catty" and "kitty" as a vote for my son... and beef stew!

I've heard both used, but catty corner, is the one I use/hear used the most. I also think it depneds on where you're from or where you live, as to how much you've heard it or will hear it used in the future. Kids pick up and pass on a few of the sayings adults use, but come up with their own more often.

We're using the simpsons to write the dictionary now

That's so cromulent...

a reply to: Boadicea

I have a question for you, have you moved to a different region? Or did the people you were talking to recently move to your region?

Kitty Corner vs Catty Corner is used differently in different regions. I have always used Kitty Corner, and hadn't even heard "Catty Corner" until well into my adult life.

Here is a map that shows the different usage.

a reply to: DAVID64

Excellent point -- that's why every generation has their own slang. I've kinda wondered if it had to do with GPS technology, and if that might have something to do with it going out of use, with basic cardinal directions more appropriate. I had wondered about regional differences as well, but in this instance we were looking more at age/generation.

I love that map- I've never once heard catty-corner, always kitty corner.
Go figure... but no, it's a perfectly "cromulent" term, well used in these parts.

This may help in the kitty vs catty, it is a colloquial thing:
Harvard wordpress
Nevermind.
Kudos to kruphix for posting the map first.

a reply to: savemebarry

LOL! The irony wasn't lost on me either as I looked it up... and actually found it! I had to smile even as I was shaking my head.

originally posted by: lordcomac

I love that map- I've never once heard catty-corner, always kitty corner.

Some one posted a vernacular usage map awhile back that was able to tell where you are from in the country by what phrases you use, it was so accurate it actually got the correct city in northern New Jersey where I am from.