English · Idiom Historical

old one

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

The Devil. Likewise an expression of quizzical familiarity, as "how d'ye do, OLD ONE?"

Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English

Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Topics: Historical slang (1800s)

Common questions

What does “old one” mean?

The Devil. Likewise an expression of quizzical familiarity, as "how d'ye do, OLD ONE?"

Is “old one” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.

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