dickens, Dickens

'Christmas Carol': Dickens's gift keeps on giving
Tale that helped ignite holiday spirit in 1843 still sparks it today

dickens
(dĭk'ənz)
n. Informal

1. A severe reprimand or expression of anger: gave me the dickens for being late.
2. Used as an intensive: What in the dickens is that?

[Alteration of DEVIL (influenced by the name Dickens).]