n. 1 a place regarded in some religions as the abode of the dead, or of condemned sinners and devils. 2 a place or state of misery or wickedness. 3 colloq. used as an exclamation of surprise or annoyance (who the hell are you?; a hell of a mess). 4 US colloq. fun; high spirits. beat (or knock etc.) the hell out of colloq. beat etc. without restraint. come hell or high water no matter what the difficulties. for the hell of it colloq. for fun; on impulse. get (or catch) hell colloq. be severely scolded or punished. give a person hell colloq. scold or punish or make things difficult for a person. hell-bent (foll. by on) recklessly determined. hell-cat a spiteful violent woman. hell-fire the fire or fires regarded as existing in hell. hell for leather at full speed. hell-hole an oppressive or unbearable place. hell-hound a fiend. hell's angel a member of a gang of male motor-cycle enthusiasts notorious for outrageous and violent behaviour. like hell colloq. 1 not at all. 2 recklessly, exceedingly. not a hope in hell colloq. no chance at all. play hell (or merry hell) with colloq. be upsetting or disruptive to. what the hell colloq. it is of no importance. hell-like adj. hellward adv. & adj.
[ OE hel, hell f. Gmc ]