int. colloq. or slang. Also cricky, crackey. [As this alliterates with Christ, or L. Christe! it was perh. originally one of the alliterative or assonant substitutes for sacred names, used to avoid the appearance of profanity: cf. CRIMINE.] An exclamation of astonishment.
1842. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Auto-da-fé, It would make you exclaim … if an Englishman, Crikey!
1884. Henrietta H. Holdich, in Harper’s Mag., Oct., 693/1. Cricky! didn’t she go it, though!
