Heading
German Synonyms.—Herrle (especially applied to Catholic priests). Lefranz or Lefrenz (a transposition of Franzle or Fränzle = the Franciscan. Liber Vagatorum Lefrenzin, = a priest's harlot, still popular in N. Germany); Schocherer (from Hebrew schochar = black. Cf., analogous English terms); Schwarzfärber (Schwarz = black; Färber = a dyer).
Italian Synonyms.—Chiodrino; capellano rosso (a cardinal; 'a red chaplain'); farfoio (= a monk; farfoia, a nun); rossignolo (= 'a nightingale'); pisto or pistolfo (Michel: 'parce qu'il suit le condamné à la piste').
Spanish Synonym.—Cleriguillo (= a little cleric: both insult and endearment).
1791. Lackington, Memoirs, Letter vi. [ed. 1803]. These devil-dodgers happened to be so very powerful (that is, noisy) that they soon sent John home, crying out he should be damn'd.
1889. Cornhill Mag., Jan., p. 50. He's just a kind of a fine-haired cuss—a gambler, or a devil-dodger. I reckon . . . I'm open ter bet he's a preacher.
Devil-Drawer, subs. (old).—An
indifferent artist.
Devilish, adv. (colloquial).—Used
intensitively. Cf., Awfully,
and Beastly.
1755. The World, No 140. How arbitrary is language! and how does the custom of mankind join words, that reason has put asunder. Thus we often hear of hell-fire cold, of devilish handsome, and the like.
1780. Mrs. Cowley, The Belles Stratagem, iii., 1. I tell you, sir, that, for all that, she's dev'lish sensible.
1871. Sir M. Lopez, Speech on Army Bill, H. of C., 3 July. It was devilish hard—he meant very hard—to lay it.
Devil's Bed-posts, or Devil's
Four-poster, subs. phr. (cards').—The
four of clubs; held as an
unlucky 'turn-up.'
1879. J. C. J., in N. and Q., 5 S., xii., 473. In London I have always heard the four of clubs called the devil's bedpost, and also that it is the worst turn-up one could have.
Devil's-Bones, subs. (old).—Dice;
also Devil's teeth. Cf., Devil's
books.
1664. Etherege, Comical Revenge, II., iii., in wks. (1704), 27. I do not understand dice: I understand good pasture and drink—hang the devil's bones.
1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xxiii. A gamester, one who deals with the devil's bones and the doctors.
Devil's-Books, subs. (common).—Cards.
[Of Presbyterian origin;
in reproof of a synonymous term—King's
Books, or more fully,
The History of the Four
Kings (Fr.,livre des quatre rois).]
Also Books of Briefs (Fr., la
cartouchière à portées).
1729. Swift, Intelligencer, No. 4, p. 43 (2nd ed.). Cards are the devil's own invention, for which reason, time out of mind, they are and have been called the devil's books.
18(?). Thackeray, Character Sketches (Capt. Rook and Mr. Pigeon). I often think that the devil's books, as cards are called, are let out to us from Old Nick's circulating library.
Devil's-Claws, subs. (thieves').—The
broad arrow on convicts'
uniforms.
Devil's-Colours or Livery, subs.
(common).—Black and yellow.
Devil's-Daughter, subs. (common).—A
shrew.
Devil's-Delight. To kick up
the devil's delight, verbal
phr. (common).—To make a
disturbance.
