Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A mischievous, troublesome, or unruly person.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun an unruly, rowdy or mischievous person
  • noun an evil person
  • noun the larva of the dobsonfly
  • adjective cursed, ill-fated

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a rowdy or mischievous person (usually a young man)

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Probably alteration (influenced by hell) of dialectal hallion, worthless person.]

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Examples

  • Lottie had been called a hellion, an imp, and a mischievous fiend.

    One Night Of Scandal Medeiros, Teresa, 1962- 2003

  • Tom had called the woman a "hellion," therefore he was privileged to do the same, and any denial of that privilege was an iniquitous encroachment upon HIS sacred rights.

    The Winds of Chance Rex Ellingwood Beach 1913

  • It's a story loosely based on my mom's three younger brothers and their early hellion ways ed. note: the movie's three boys are pictured below.

    Kat Candler: The Sundance Diaries: We Got In? Shut Up! Kat Candler 2012

  • Spent the next several hours surrounded by a double-sized passel of hellion children whose parental units weren't watching them or disciplining them.

    Another Father's Day jobunches 2009

  • Well then, my ideal wife is an unpredictable hellion, with a penchant for getting into trouble and speaking her mind.

    How to Woo a Reluctant Lady Deborah Gonzales 2011

  • It's a story loosely based on my mom's three younger brothers and their early hellion ways ed. note: the movie's three boys are pictured below.

    Kat Candler: The Sundance Diaries: We Got In? Shut Up! Kat Candler 2012

  • Suddenly Howell was getting the hang of talking to this hellion in a wheelchair.

    Lorelei 2010

  • But now, as we ebb toward the season finale, our Ade has morphed from misunderstood head case to monstrous hellion, swapping out Silver's bipolar meds and getting Navid drunk enough to believe they actually hooked up while his girlfriend was in the psych ward.

    Watercooler: Is Adrianna the New Bad Girl of 90210? 2011

  • I thought he was all, 'Aw shucks, yes m'am, no m'am,' but he's a hellion.

    Parenthood's Pregnancy and Playboy's Socially Aggressive Plots 2011

  • Suddenly Howell was getting the hang of talking to this hellion in a wheelchair.

    Lorelei 2010

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