heck

¹

[hek]

interjection

1. (used as a mild expression of annoyance, rejection, disgust, etc.).

   What the heck do you care?

noun

1. something remarkable of its kind (usually used in the phraseheck of a ).

   That was a heck of an impressive speech. Have one heck of a good time.

heck

²

[hek]

noun

1. a comblike attachment on a loom, for guiding the warp threads as they are dressed for the warp beam.

2. a device that guides yarn onto the bobbin of a spinning wheel.

3. a gridlike arrangement of glass or metal rods below the hooks on a Jacquard loom, used for lifting all harness eyes equally or evenly.

heck

¹

/ hɛk /

interjection

1. a mild exclamation of surprise, irritation, etc

heck

²

/ hɛk /

noun

1. dialect,  a frame for obstructing the passage of fish in a river

Word History and Origins

Origin of heck¹

First recorded in 1850–55; euphemistic alteration of hell

Origin of heck²

1300–50; Middle English hekke, Old English hecc, variant of hæcc hatch ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of heck¹

C19: euphemistic for hell

Origin of heck²

C14: variant of _hatch ²

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. as heck (used as a mild intensifier).

   I say he's guilty as heck.

Example Sentences

That was a “complete lie,” he told the press: “I have been a ‘heck no’ the whole time.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I can feel Autumn’s finger pulse, as if asking me what the heck is going on.

Read more on Literature

The city’s portfolio last year had “a 3.6% return, which is low. Heck, the 10-year Treasury trades above 4%, a risk free instrument.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Heritage’s Mike Gonzalez framed the issue well to Mr. Roberts: “I made a forever promise to my wife. I didn’t make a forever promise to Tucker Carlson. What the heck is that?”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Heck, I’d love an executive order releasing the Epstein files, which may be America’s most bipartisan issue.

Read more on Los Angeles Times