verb, and dratted, adj. (colloquial).—A mild and indefinite imprecation of contempt, or impatience. [A corruption of ‘God rot it.’] For synonyms, see OATHS.
1846. Punch, vol. XI., p. 40, col. 2.
1852. DICKENS, Bleak House, ch. xxi., p. 178. DRAT you, be quiet! says the good old man.
1864. Churchman’s Family Magazine, Nov., p. 420.
1869. E. WOOD, Roland Yorke, ch. v. If that DRATTED girl had been at her post indoors … it might never have happened.
1883. PAYN, Thicker than Water, ch. xxix. An observation which, I am sorry to say,… she supplemented with ‘DRAT the girl!’
