subs. (military).—1. The Eighty-Eight Foot. [A contraction of THE DEVIL’S OWN CONNAUGHT BOYS, a name given by General Picton for their gallantry in action and their irregularity in quarters during the Peninsular War, 1809–14.]
2. (volunteer).—The Inns of Court Volunteers [in allusion to the legal personnel].
1854. MARK LEMON, The Jest Book, p. 211. At a review of the volunteers, when the half-drowned heroes were defiling by all the best ways, the DEVIL’S OWN walked straight through. This being reported to Lord B——, he remarked, ‘that the lawyers always went through thick and thin.’
1872. Daily Telegraph, 28 Nov. In Richmond Park the Inns of Court Rifle Volunteers, more familiarly known as the DEVIL’S OWN, were inspected by Colonel Daubeney.
