The Merry Wives of Windsor is the first recorded use of the phrase ‘What the dickens…?’ Plainly it does not refer to Charles Dickens because it predates his birth by several hundred years. Some phrase finders suggest that ‘dickens’ is used by Shakespeare to refer to the devil in a new way that is a twist on similar words.
But it is not sure, and it could be a twist on the nickname for Richard. Or it could be something that Shakespeare pulled out of the air. After all, he invented more than one thousand new words and brought them into the English language.
Here is scene II of The Merry Wives of Windsor, with the phrase highlighted.
SCENE II. A street.
Enter MISTRESS PAGE and ROBIN
MISTRESS PAGE
Nay, keep your way, little gallant; you were wont to
be a follower, but now you are a leader. Whether
had you rather lead mine eyes, or eye your master’s heels?
ROBIN
I had rather, forsooth, go before you like a man
than follow him like a dwarf.
MISTRESS PAGE
O, you are a flattering boy: now I see you’ll be a courtier.
Enter FORD
FORD
Well met, Mistress Page. Whither go you?
MISTRESS PAGE
Truly, sir, to see your wife. Is she at home?
FORD
Ay; and as idle as she may hang together, for want
of company. I think, if your husbands were dead,
you two would marry.
MISTRESS PAGE
Be sure of that,–two other husbands.
FORD
Where had you this pretty weather-cock?
MISTRESS PAGE
I cannot tell what the dickens his name is my
husband had him of. What do you call your knight’s
name, sirrah?
ROBIN
Sir John Falstaff.
FORD
Sir John Falstaff!
MISTRESS PAGE
He, he; I can never hit on’s name. There is such a
league between my good man and he! Is your wife at
home indeed?
FORD
Indeed she is.
MISTRESS PAGE
By your leave, sir: I am sick till I see her.
Exeunt MISTRESS PAGE and ROBIN