Dick·ens (dĭk'ĭnz) British writer known for his tales of Victorian life and times. His works, which first appeared in serialized form, include The Pickwick Papers (1836-1837), Oliver Twist (1837-1838), and David Copperfield (1849-1850). Dick·en'si·an (dĭ-kěn'zē-ən) adj.
n. the dickens the devil. (Always with the in this sense.) : I felt as bad as the dickens, but what could I do?
n. a devilish or impish child. (Also a term of address. Usually with little.) : You are such a cute little dickens!
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition. Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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exclamation, 1598, probably altered from Dickon, nickname for Richard and source of the surnames Dickens and Dickenson, but exact derivation and meaning are unknown.