This is where "hell to pay" originated from. In the days of wooden ships the timber that kept them afloat were covered in pitch or tar. The tar was applied to the bottom of the ship, or "hell" as it was called, and the process was called "paying". But before any of this was done strips of rope, wound fiber or hemp were pounded between the planks. These strips were called the "devil".
To sum it all up "paying the devil in hell" refers to pounding strips of fiber between planks and then coating them in tar. The term "hell to pay" refers to the constant maintenance of applying tar to keep the ship watertight. A job which no sailor wanted considering that "hell" was the darkest, dankest, disease ridden part of a sailing ship.
To sum it all up "paying the devil in hell" refers to pounding strips of fiber between planks and then coating them in tar. The term "hell to pay" refers to the constant maintenance of applying tar to keep the ship watertight. A job which no sailor wanted considering that "hell" was the darkest, dankest, disease ridden part of a sailing ship.
by Burt Trimlicker May 31, 2009
The mega worldwide tour of 50 cities in 30 days left me so worn out that I felt like I had been to hell and back.
by PlaceHolder June 17, 2004
by TheDudeWithTude September 16, 2010
by Haldi December 13, 2005
the horrible stench which oozes and comes out of a vagina. so horrificly revolting and repulsive the capilaries in the nosetrils rupture and the fumes cause hallucination. in some cases cause death.
roses vagina was a.k.a the smell from hell
the smells from down under smelled like they just came from hell!
the smells from down under smelled like they just came from hell!
by Carl Arcilesi July 21, 2006
Seeking help from that mental hell professional allowed me to appreciate my own comparable wellness.
by Dr Bunnygirl February 28, 2019
Abbreviated as HFY occasionally, this phrase means "Yes," but in a way that is either expressing extreme excitement, Happiness, or agreement.
by SopherGopher22 February 09, 2015