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 phrase heck 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

In returning to the role, Murray asked himself, “Where the heck would Jake be?”

From Los Angeles Times

And as he shot two free throws early in the fourth, after one heck of a show, the crowd showed their appreciation.

From Los Angeles Times

And after you’ve been running that amount and you’ve never done it before, your body is like, “What the heck is going on?”

From Los Angeles Times

“But ultimately I figured what the heck.”

From Los Angeles Times

Heck, would we have had "Barbie"?

From Salon