α. 1900s– catch-arse, 1900s– ketch-arse.
β. 1900s– catch-ass Brit. 
/ˈkatʃas/, U.S. /ˈkɛtʃˌæs/, /ˈkætʃˌæs/, Caribbean English /ˈk(j)ɛtʃˌas/, /ˈk(j)atʃˌas/, 1900s– ketch-ass.
catch-arsen.adj.
/ˈkatʃɑːs/, U.S. /ˈkɛtʃˌɑrs/, /ˈkætʃˌɑrs/, Caribbean English /ˈk(j)ɛtʃˌaː(r)s/, /ˈk(j)atʃˌaː(r)s/ Caribbean.
A. n.
A bad time; misfortune, hardship, difficulty.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > [noun]
arvethnessc1000
painc1330
difficultya1382
hardnessc1384
wondsome?a1400
hardheada1425
painfulnessa1530
difficult?1532
difficultness1549
awkness1587
uneasiness1594
difficileness1612
arduity1623
problem1641
difficacity1656
going1678
arduousness1731
catch-arse1970
the world > action or operation > adversity > [noun]
swenchOE
derfnessc1175
wandrethc1175
adversity?c1225
derf?c1225
swinka1250
torferc1325
afflictiona1382
stressc1390
marrementc1391
sorea1400
noyancec1400
infortunacya1500
aloea1529
afflict?1529
obduction1610
afflictedness1646
strain1853
besetment1872
wahala1966
catch-arse1970
the world > action or operation > adversity > calamity or misfortune > [noun] > misfortune or ill-luck
un-i-limpOE
unlimpc1175
mishap?c1225
unhap?c1225
mishappeningc1230
ames-ace?a1300
misadventure?a1300
ill hailc1300
misauntera1325
untiminga1325
miscasec1325
mischancec1325
misfall1340
misfarea1387
casec1390
infortunea1393
mishapping?a1400
unchancea1400
disadventurea1413
mischieving1432
infortuny?a1439
encumbermentc1440
misfortune1441
evil hail?c1450
malfortunea1470
unhappiness1470
maleurtee?1473
malheur?1473
evil health1477
unfortune1483
wanfortunea1500
disfortune1509
wanhap1513
ill, evil ch(i)eving?1518
mislucka1530
ill luck1548
unfortunacy?c1550
evilfare1556
unluck1556
hard luck1567
bad luck1575
miscasualty1588
disgrace1590
wanchance1599
disventure1612
misaccident1620
miscarriagec1625
hard lines1722
mishanter1754
malefit1755
miscanter1781
hard cheese1854
hard cheddar1893
schlimazel1911
tough luck1912
snake eyes1918
catch-arse1970
1970 M. Hodge Crick Crack, Monkey xiv. 94 It ain' have no blasted Heaven here but it ain' have that no-whe'—is allabout have ketch-arse—any damn place yu is you does have to haul yu arse out the bed when the mornin' come.
1986 D. Brand In Another Place, not Here (1997) 73 So is catch ass you promising me then?.. I already know catch ass.
2019 @PLatchman 17 Oct. in twitter.com (accessed 17 Feb. 2021) Breaking laws and being lawless in Trinidad and Tobago is ‘no big deal’ these days... There are many rewards for the lawless, and ketch arse for the law abiding citizens.
B. adj.
Of a person: suffering or undergoing misfortune, hardship, or difficulty; (of a time, place, etc.) bad, unpleasant; difficult or challenging.
ΚΠ
1983 F. M. Gilkes in I. Boxill & F. M. Gilkes Winds of Change 8 'Tis de political asses And de classes You fighting fuh protect. Not me, a poor ‘catch ass’ man That have to sweat sugar cane And bleed syrup and rum.
1989 Bomb 6 Oct. 2 in L. Winer Dict. Eng./Creole Trinidad & Tobago 181/2 Never mind the hell through which already ketch-arse people will have to go.
1994 L. Alleyne-Forte Jokers on Abyss' Edge 54 What you doing in this kiss-meh-tail catch-arse country, boy?
2017 @doll_Shi 13 Sept. in twitter.com (accessed 30 May 2020) I just think 2017 was my catch ass year.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, September 2021; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.adj.1970