Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a euph. for hell! excl.

1821		‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London I 517: By hecky, the warm hearts of the sons and daughters of St. Patrick have exhibited an unsophisticated feelng of loyalty.
1890		Sporting Times 11 Jan. 1: Hech, mon, if ye were a brither Scot ye’d ken it was naething but a sma’ chill.
1899		Ade Fables in Sl. (1902) 76: They knew that they did not belong on the same Platform with One who had been up yender in Chicago [...] finding out how to be a Business Man. By Heck!
1905		‘Hugh McHugh’ You Can Search Me 115: No, by Hick! I’ll make it seven thousand each.
1908		H. Green Maison De Shine 95: By Heck, her friends’ll look out fur her, if Mangle won’t.
1908		Dly Ariz. Silver Belt (Gila Co., AZ) 13 Sept. 5/2: But, by hickie, the tools are here, all rightie.
1913		H.A. Franck Zone Policeman 88 26: ‘By Heck! They must use a lot o’ mules t’ haul aout all thet dirt,’ observed an Arkansas farmer.
1920		R.J. Fry Salvation of Jemmy Sl. I i: Heck! Sometimes I wish I was back [...] hashin’ out hamburgers.
1920		S. Lewis Main Street (1921) 225: Yes, by heckelum, I’m a smart fella.
1922		S. Lewis Babbitt 178: How it feels, by heck, to be up at five-thirty and at the factory.
1936		(con. 1920s) Dos Passos Big Money in USA (1966) 891: By heck, you may be right.
1938		C. Beaton Cecil Beaton’s N.Y. 99: Heck, how the audience yells.
1938		Pittsburgh Courier (PA) 8 Oct. 11/1: Heck, it’s column time again.
1940		O. Strange Sudden Takes the Trail 19: Said he was a methodis’ an, by heck, he is.
c.1943		S .J. Baker Aus. Vulgarisms [t/s] 6: Hell: hades, Halifax, heck, hellishun, hangashun, help (and, possibly, heavens).
1951		J.D. Salinger Catcher in the Rye (1958) 198: ‘Will the light bother you?’ ‘No – heck, no.’.
1965		W. Dick Bunch of Ratbags 34: Heck, ten bob’s ten bob, ain’t it?
1977		(con. 1960s) Nicholson & Smith Spend, Spend, Spend (1978) 197: He’s going to, bleeding heck!
1977		in K. Gilbert Living Black 143: But by heck, I can steer ’em straight on these subjects.
1982		J. Sullivan ‘The Long Legs of the Law’ Only Fools and Horses [TV script] Oh blooming ’eck.
1999		Guardian Weekend 12 June 67: Oh heck! Police, accompanied by Harriet in tears.
2001		K. Waterhouse Soho 186: Was that it, then? No, was it heckers like.