Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1873
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HEXHAM, n. The name of a town in Northumberland, used in Rxb. and n.Eng. border counties as a euphemism for Hell.
Hence phrs. to Hexham, “to blazes” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Dmf., Rxb. 1957); oh, Hexham! an exclamation of surprise (Ib.). Also comb. Hexham-birnie, “an indefinitely remote place” (Ib.). Cf. Hecklebirnie, id.Rxb. 1873 Trans. Hawick Arch. Soc. 202:
To Hexham wi' you an' ye'r whussel!
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"Hexham n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/hexham>
