1520s, from hell + -ish. Related: Hellishly; hellishness. Earlier in same sense were helli "helly" (late 12c.); hellen "hellish, infernal" (c. 1200), with -en (2); and Old English hellic and hellcund.
hellish weather
hellish torture
hell-fired
hellgate
hell-hole
hell-hound
hellion
hellish
hello
hell-raiser
Hells Angels
helluva
helm