ˈhellishing, ˈhellishun, a. and adv. slang (chiefly Austral. and N.Z.).
Used as intensive adj. or adv.: terrible; very. Cf. hangashun s.v. hang n. 6.
| 1931 Amer. Speech VI. 434 He seems to be in a hellishin' hurry about something. This is a hellishin' fine time to tell us about it. 1941 Baker Dict. Austral. Slang 35 Hellishun, an intensive used widely by children. 1950 Landfall IV. 38 It's hellashin funny. 1967 K. Giles Death & Mr. Prettyman vii. 145 The journey was as hellishing as he remembered. 1968 E. McGirr Lead-Lined Coffin iii. 114, I don't know that anybody..has any knowledge of how hellishing thorough we are. |