dickens slang or colloq.
(ˈdɪkɪnz)
Also 7–8 dickins, 8–9 dickons, 9 dickings.
[App. substituted for ‘devil’, as having the same initial sound. It has been suggested to be worn down from devilkin or deilkin, but no evidence of this has been found. Dickin or Dickon, dim. of Dick (cf. Wilkin, Watkin, Jankin or Jenkin, Simkin) was in use long before the earliest known instance of this, and Dickens as a surname was probably also already in existence.]
The deuce, the devil. a. the dickens! (formerly also a dickens!) an interjectional exclamation expressing astonishment, impatience, irritation, etc.; usually with interrogative words, as what, where, how, why, etc. (Cf. deuce, devil.)
| 1598 Shakes. Merry W. iii. ii. 19, I cannot tell what (the dickens) his name is. 1600 Heywood 1 Edw. IV, iii. Wks. 1874 I. 40 What the dickens? is it loue that makes ye prate to me so fondly? 1676 D'Urfey Mad. Fickle ii. i, Oh have I found you at last? I wonder where the Dickins you ramble! 1687 Congreve Old Bach. ii. i, What, a dickens, does he mean by a trivial sum? 1728 Vanbr. & Cib. Prov. Husb. iv. i. 72 The dickens! has the Rogue of a Count play'd us another Trick then? 1794 Wolcott (P. Pindar) Rowl. for Oliver Wks. II. 308 Then what a dickens can I do or say? 1842 S. C. Hall Ireland II. 402 Why the dickons don't you let us serve them all out at once? |
b. in imprecations, as the dickens take you!; also in phr. to go to the dickens, to go to ruin or perdition; to play the dickens, to cause mischief or havoc.
| 1653 Urquhart Rabelais i. Prol., Hearken joltheads..or dickens take ye. 1656 Blount Glossogr., Dickins, a corruption of Devilkins, i. little Devils; as tis usually said, the Dickens take you. 1771 Smollett Humph. Cl. 3 June ¶4 He [the lion] would roar, and tear, and play the dickens. 1831 Moore Summer Fête 822 Like those Goths who played the dickens With Rome and all her sacred chickens. 1861 Sala Dutch Pict. xiii. 199 They played the very dickens with Doctor Pantologos. 1877 Black Green Past. xlii. (1878) 336 Business went to the dickens. |
c. as a strong negative (= devil 21).
| 1842 S. Lover Handy Andy xxiii, The dickings a mind he minded the market. 1884 Illustr. Lond. News Christm. No. 19/3 ‘The dickens you are’, thought Fred. |