puss in the corner

Meanings

nounpuss in the corner (uncountable)

uncountableA children's game in which someone in the centre tries to capture other players' bases as they change places.
It sounded, as this young lady thought it over, very much like puss-in-the-corner, and she could only wonder if the distribution of parties would lead to a rushing to and fro and a changing of places.
1897, Henry James, What Maisie Knew
Synonyms: kitty wants a corner, pussy wants a corner
uncountableA solitaire card game with four waste piles located at the corners of a square of the four aces.

nounA children's game in which someone in the centre tries to capture other players' bases as they change places.

Also see

Cite this entry

APA

puss in the corner. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/puss%20in%20the%20corner

MLA

“puss in the corner.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/puss%20in%20the%20corner. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “puss in the corner,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/puss%20in%20the%20corner.