devil's hornn.
/ˌdɛvlz ˈhɔːn/, U.S. /ˌdɛv(ə)lz ˈhɔrn/ 1.
a. Usually in plural. Either of the horns on the head of the Devil or a devil; a model or representation of this, esp. worn as an item of fancy dress. Cf. devil horn n. (a) at devil n. Compounds 2.In quot. 1583 in black devil's horns, in a text contrasting black devils, who do not disguise their true nature, with white devils, who do (see white devil n. at white adj. and n. Compounds 1f).In quot. 1613 as a mass noun: (hyperbolically) the material of which a devil's horns are made, as cause of bad luck.
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society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > bone or horn > [noun] > horn > types of
unicorna1533
devil's horn1583
ram's horn1611
greenhorn1725
buffalo-horn1783
stag-horn1815
buck-horn1820
deer-horn1843
devil horn1854
antler1872
rhino horn1889
1583 W. Chauncie tr. P. Viret Worlde Possessed with Deuils ii. sig. Givv Thei are contented to goe more gently to work, and to hide their black Deuils hornes [Fr. les cornes de leur diable noir] more then thei had wont... Thei counterfaite the white Deuilles.
1613 S. Rowlands More Knaues Yet sig. B3v These damned Dice..if truth were known, Are made of diuels horne, or Diues [sic] bone. Aboue a hundred pound I lost last night.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) ii. iv. 16 Let's write good Angell on the Deuills horne 'Tis not the Deuills Crest.
1780 W. Beckford Biogr. Mem. Extraordinary Painters 44 No varnish but nut-oil could smooth a wilderness, or give so amiable a polish to the devil's horn.
1828 tr. F. L. Z. Werner Templars in Cyprus v. ii, in Foreign Rev. 1 105 The flesh Went from his hollow cheeks; and of his hair Grew snakes, and of the snakes grew Devil's-horns.
1922 Normal Instructor & Primary Plans Oct. 60/1 Enter Fire, a child dressed in blazing red costume with devil's horns.
1988 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 26 May c27/1 In Mexico, the local stagehands refused to use the handtrucks because they thought the handles looked like devil's horns.
2012 M. L. Hinton Sin-eater's Daughter xxxi. 257 He thought a more fitting costume would have been red dresses, devil's horns and pitchforks.
b. In plural. A hand gesture representing devil's horns, made by extending the index and little fingers while holding the middle and ring fingers down with the thumb; = devil horn n. (b) at devil n. Compounds 2.In earlier use, known as the sign of the horns. The gesture traditionally signifies the warding off of evil, although in various places it is used with other meanings, and is now particularly associated with fans of heavy metal music.
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society > communication > indication > gesturing or gesture > hand gesture > [noun] > finger gesture > other finger gestures
fillip1530
devil horn1854
devil's horns1905
victory sign1942
bird1966
air quote1989
1905 Tales Aug. 7/1 The doors of the synagogues were closed upon him, the children ‘made the devil's horns’ at him from far off and fled at his approach.
1955 Life 25 Apr. 94/2 (caption) The evil-eyed girl looks out on a trio of tormentors, one of whom makes the sign of the devil's horns with her hand.
1985 Billboard 13 Apr. 53/1 The fists and devil's horns pierced the air..as Dickinson explained to the crowd that Iron Maiden is not a devil-worshipping band.
2016 Guardian (Nexis) 22 Mar. [Lydia] Lunch walks on stage, sips from a large glass of white wine and throws up devil's horns with ineffable nonchalance.
2. English regional (originally Norfolk). The stinkhorn fungus Phallus impudicus. Also devil's horn fungus. Now historical and rare.
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the world > plants > particular plants > fungi > [noun] > stink-horns
gingran1660
stink-horn1724
phallus1759
stinking morel1777
stinking polecat1874
devil's horn1877
death baby1892
1877 J. Britten Pop. Brit. Fungi xvii. 88 In Norfolk they call it [sc. Phallus impudicus] ‘devil's horn’.
1906 Countryside 11 Aug. 196/2 The tall white fungus with a very evil smell which you find growing in shady places is variously known as devil's horn fungus, stinking polecat fungus, [etc.].
2002 N. P. Money Mr. Bloomfield's Orchard i. 6 Phallus has been identified as the devil's eggs, devil's horn, and devil's stinkpot.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1583- to roll against
- to roll along
- to roll around
- to roll away
- to roll back
- to roll back the years
- to roll bones
- to roll by
- to roll down
- to roll down to st helena
- to roll in
- to roll in the hay
- to roll into
- to roll into one
- to roll off
- to roll on
- to roll one's own
- to roll one's tongue
- to roll one's way on
- to roll one's way upon
- to roll one'the tongue
- to roll out
- to roll out the red carpet
- to roll over
- to roll round