1754. 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. HANNAH COWLEY, The Belle’s Stratagem, iii., 1. I tell you, Sir, that, for all that, she’s DEV’LISH sensible.
1871. SIR M. LOPEZ, Speech on Army Bill, House of Commons, 3 July. It was DEVILISH hard—he meant very hard—to lay it.
