The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #95824 Message #1867846
Posted By: Amos
24-Oct-06 - 11:20 PM
Thread Name: BS: Who are 'The Dickens'?
Subject: RE: BS: Who are 'The Dickens'?
Ake, I am dubious that this saying has much to do with Charles. I'd be interested in any subtantiation of the idea.
The short OED says :
dickens /dikkinz/
• noun informal used to express annoyance or surprise when asking questions: what the dickens is going on?
— ORIGIN a euphemism for devil.
but it doesn't give the full word history you find in the unabridged.