"helluv" definition, meaning, and origin

Adjective

Intensifier, signifies an abundance of a thing; much or many.
- Hey, if you guys get the munchies, there's helluv candy in the cupboard.
- […] and all of the other people I have met who show me helluv love when I come through your town. - 2006, Joylynn Jossel, When Souls Mate:

From "hell of (a)", like hella (originally Northern California slang). See also Wikipedia:Hella (word).

Intensifier (modifies verbs); to a large extent; totally; very much.
- Dude, I helluv want to go to the show with you, but I'm soooo grounded.
- “[…]. This helluv hurts.” We grownups burst out laughing, and I hugged her bony adolescent shoulders. - 2002, Peggy Vincent, Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife, page 225:
Intensifier (modifies adjectives); to a large degree; extremely; exceedingly.
- That new girl is helluv sexy.
- “We had the baby, like two minutes ago. It was helluv icy. […] Naeema was so brave, just hellabitchin', and I delivered the baby myself 'cause we have this hellafresh midwife who taught me how to do it.” - 2002, Peggy...
- “Man, if I had never been to California and read that magazine, I would be helluv scared to come out there!” - 2003, Adrienne Anderson, Word: Rap, Politics and Feminism, page 14:

Elision of "hell of".
- Oh, you goddam-betcha, Julie, it's one helluva lot better — one HELLUV A lot better — to be born dirt-poor. Course then you get to stay that way the rest of your life. - 1977, Curt Johnson, The Morning Light, page 214:
- “That's the helluv it — beggin' yer pardon, miss...” - 1997, Kat Martin, Innocence Undone, page 297:
Elision of "the hell of".
- “Helluv it is,” he grumbled. “I was thinking of marrying her myself. Wrote her a letter, but it didn't get posted in time.” - 1997, Kat Martin, Innocence Undone, page 173:
Elision of "hell have"
- Where the helluv you been? - 1973, Richard Cowper, Clone, page 99:

Shortened form, or elision, of phrases like "hell of" or "hell have", approximating casual speech in writing.

For sure; totally; hell yeah; used as a strong affirmation of something that was just said, accomplished, or revealed.
- "Hey, you wanna come to the concert tonight?" "Oh, helluv!"