On Language on Heck

[Michael McKernan]

Joanne M. Despres wrote:
>
>I think this "heck" is probably a different one from the euphemism
>we're familiar with.  The Scottish National Dictionary reports an
>interjectional "heck" that is "a call to a horse to turn to the left" . . .
>also used as verb and figuratively of persons . . . Found in n. Engl.
>dials."

Ah, but then,  a 'turn to the left'...'figuratively of persons,' could well
have been interpreted by some political idealogues as 'heading straight to
hell!'

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