heck

¹ American  

[hek] / hɛk /

interjection

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

   What the heck do you care?

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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.

idioms

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

   I say he's guilty as heck.

heck ² American  

[hek] / hɛk /

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.

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heck ¹ British  

/ hɛk /

interjection

1. a mild exclamation of surprise, irritation, etc

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heck ² British  

/ hɛk /

noun

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

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Etymology

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

Example Sentences

“What the heck was that?!?!?!?” yelled Pelicarnassus, trying to gain control of the giant robot pelican suit, which was now lurching back a step or two, like someone had shoved it.

From Literature

“I’ve been coaching against Brenda Frese since I was at Florida State in the ACC and she has sustained success. She’s a heck of a coach. The hardest thing to do is to get really talented players to play hard and selflessly a high percentage of the time, and she does that every year.”

From Los Angeles Times

Agricultural Research Service Scientist Dr. Michelle Heck emphasized the importance of the results for farmers.

From Science Daily

Heck!” fumed Aunt Kitty one brisk March afternoon when I returned from feeding the orange tomcat outside Mrs. Wigginbottom’s kitchen.

From Literature

“Heck and tarnation is right,” I said, trying hard to sound like I was sharing Aunt Kitty’s frustration.

From Literature