and tarnal, adj. and adv. (American).—‘Damnation’; ‘eternal’; mild oaths. As adj. = great, very, etc.: e.g., TARNATION strange, a TARNAL time, etc.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends, ‘The Bagman’s Dog.’ Extremely annoyed by the ‘TARNATION whop.’
1839. HOOD, A Sailor’s Apology for Bow-legs. And her TARNATION hull a-growing rounder!
1848. J. R. LOWELL, The Biglow Papers, 1 S. ii. I darsn’t skeer the TARNAL thing.
1853. BULWER-LYTTON, My Novel, v. 8. A TARNATION long word.
1901. Free Lance, 30 Nov., 220. 2. This TARNATION old country.
