Comments on: What the Deuce, Or, Etymological Devilry

By: Speaking of the Devil, Part 1 | Wordnik ~ all the words

Speaking of the Devil, Part 1 | Wordnik ~ all the words — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:55:47 +0000

[...] in her post about the devil’s nicknames. There’s Old Nick, whose origin is obscure. The Oxford University Press blog says it may come nicker, “water sprite.” Grammarphobia says a possible origin is the first name [...]

By: nigel raymond

nigel raymond — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 20:52:56 +0000

Tiu is the name of the Anglo-Saxon sky-god.

Nikkar is an alternative name of Woden, another
of the Anglo-Saxon pantheon.

Proponents of the Christian religion regarded such
deities as enemies.

By: Kelly Blackie

Kelly Blackie — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:36:32 +0000

In regard to what the deuce,might not “deuce” be related to the latin “deus” god/deity, and therefore be rendered “what the deity?”

By: Dot

Dot — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 07:17:09 +0000

And he lay hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devi…

Old Nick is the old serpent and may be connected to nickor and old English name for a water serpent, as found in Beowolf.

Also the Greek NT word for devil is diabolos coming from roots that mean to throw, caste down of thrust through which may give rise to the deuce words.

By: John Pretty

John Pretty — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 11:42:22 +0000

I think the explanation of the derivation of ‘Old Nick’ is, with respect, highly implausible. ‘Old Nick’ is a phrase long in the vernacular imagination. I doubt many ordinary 18th and 18th century English men and women would have even heard of the metal nickel let alone associate it with the devil. I think an ‘evil’ figure that had entered the public imagination is a more likely explanation – perhaps Niccolo Machiavelli (who I have read is a possibility) or perhaps Nicholas Barbon who was a famous figure in his day.

By: Kristina

Kristina — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:45:21 +0000

Devil=duality=separate (diabolein)

By: What the Deuce? « The Mendicant Bug

What the Deuce? « The Mendicant Bug — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 01:58:33 +0000

[...] the 2000 version of Henry James’ The Golden Bowl, I heard the once-common phrase “The deuce only knows…” I’m always looking for vintage profanity, and this appealed to me [...]