Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a general interrogatory intensifier; a var. on what the hell...? phr.

c.1360		Alliterative Poems (Morris) 97: [Jonah is asked by his shipmates] what ye devel hats you don? [F&H].
c.1499		Skelton Bowge of Courte line 208: But I wonder what the devyll of helle He sayde of me, whan he with you dyde talke.
1533		J. Heywood A Merry Play in Farmer Dramatic Writings (1905) 73: What the devil reck I?
1567		Trial of Treasure Aiii: What the Deuill ailed me to singe thus.
1607		Beaumont Woman Hater II i: What the deuill do’st thou in blacke.
c.1620		Fletcher Women Pleased III iv: What a Devill is this? ty’d to her finger too? A string, a damned string to give intelligence?
1668		Dryden An Evening’s Love Act III: What the Devil did I mean to play with this Brunet of Africk?
1700		T. Brown Amusements Serious and Comical in Works (1744) III 61: What the devil have we here to do.
1737		H. Carey Dragon of Wantley II i: Why, what the Devil is the Woman doing!
1756		W. Toldervy Hist. of the Two Orphans III 24: What the d---l have you got there?
1760		Foote The Minor 50: What the devil can I do?
1767		‘Andrew Barton’ Disappointment I i: The letter will do to a tittle, but what the devil’s this ancient, worm-eaten piece?
1780		H. Cowley Belle’s Stratagem I i: What the devil brings you to this part of town?
1791		J. Gillray Hopes of the Party, prior to July 14th (cartoon) 19 July : Zounds! what the devil is it that puts me into such a hell of a Funk?
a.1796		‘They Took Me to the Holy Band’ in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) IV 273: I answer’d in not mony words, / ‘What deil need a’ this clatter?’.
1808		Byron letter 18 Sept. Works (1844) 71/1: I have also to request you will call on Louch and inquire what the devil he meant by sending such an insolent letter to me at Brighton.
1821		‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London I 74: Why, what the devil is the matter?
1837		Marryat Snarleyyow II 198: Now, Mr What-the-devil’s-your-name, you must drink off a glass of my burnt brandy.
1840		Blackwood’s Edinburgh Mag. XLVII 55/2: What the devil d’you call ’em?
1855		Staffs Sentinel 3 Mar. 5/1: She noticed his hand to catch in her pocket. She said to him, ‘What the devil are you doing?’.
1861		T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxford (1880) 26: What the devil do I care.
1870		Appleton’s Journal (N.Y.) 3 Dec. 667/2: What the devil are you looking at me in that way for?
1879		London Life 24 May 3/1: ‘What the devil can she be doing here?’.
1899		C. Rook Hooligan Nights 117: I wonder what the devil they’re talking about.
1910		F.P. Dunne Mr Dooley Says 155: I don’t know-what-th’-divvle-it-was.
1918		‘Sapper’ Human Touch 14: What the devil are you laughing at?
1920		‘Sapper’ Bulldog Drummond 170: What the devil was he to do now?
1934		H. Miller Tropic of Cancer (1963) 124: My God! [...] what in the devil is all this? What does it mean?
1934		Wodehouse Right Ho, Jeeves 153: What the devil [...] are you talking about?
1957		R. Prather Always Leave ’Em Dying 109: What the devil goes on out there?
1968		P. Barnes Ruling Class I x: I don’t know what the devil you’re on about.