A mild exclamation expressing surprise, alarm, or emphasis; a variant of 'crikey.'
British slang derived from 'Christ' through euphemistic alteration, likely influenced by Cockney rhyming slang traditions. The word emerged in the 19th century as a socially acceptable substitute for religious oaths.
Crickey is one of the few remaining 'minced oaths'—words created specifically to avoid saying something considered offensive or blasphemous. It's a linguistic time capsule showing how Victorian society handled taboo language while still expressing emotion.
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