n. (usu. prec. by how, what, why, etc., the) colloq. (esp. in exclamations) deuce; the Devil (what the dickens are you doing here?).
[ 16th c.: prob. a use of the surname Dickens ]
n. (usu. prec. by how, what, why, etc., the) colloq. (esp. in exclamations) deuce; the Devil (what the dickens are you doing here?).
[ 16th c.: prob. a use of the surname Dickens ]
Concise Oxford English dictionary. Краткий оксфордский словарь английского языка. 2012