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Dictionary definition of “hokey Dinah”

hokey Dinah

other. an exclamation of surprise or marvel. Subjects:
Etymological Note: Perhaps a form of the slightly more common holy Dinah, though the Oxford English Dictionary has an entry for hokey, hoaky, defined as “a petty oath, or asservation.“ Citations show a common form to be by the hokey which dates at least as far back as 1825.
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Citations: 2000 [S & C Clark] Usenet: rec.outdoors.fishing.bass (Jan. 15) “Re: jet skiers”: Hokey Dinah!!…I can see a new newsgroup on the horizon! 2003 Weddingbells.ca (Can.) (July 23) “Re: Next GTA Get Together”: Hokey Dinah, why didn’t I read this thread earlier? I’m in! 2004 [Joanne] Ioan Gruffudd Community (Aug. 31) “Hello Monthly Poll”: Great support! Lovely! Hokey Dinah! 2005 [twistedhip] twistedhip (Toronto, Can.) (Jan. 24) “Airlift my Loaf”: “Hokey Dynah!“…The person who uses this phrase just got finished using “pritneer” in a sentence, and something has just startled him.
Posted 26 Jan 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend
Reader comments:
Appears to have its most common usage in Canada based on the above citations, and based on my own observations.
by Mark Weller 28 Sep 08, 1235 GMT

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