The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #95824   Message #1867929
Posted By: Paul Burke
25-Oct-06 - 03:44 AM
Thread Name: BS: Who are 'The Dickens'?
Subject: RE: BS: Who are 'The Dickens'?
From Shakespeare's "The Merry Wives of Windsor", Act 3 Scene 2:

FORD

    Where had you this pretty weather-cock?

MISTRESS PAGE

    I cannot tell what the dickens his name is my
    husband had him of. What do you call your knight's
    name, sirrah?

Inverse euphemism: my mother remembered being smacked for saying "Fatty Arbuckle".