Stinking cold

Someone has asked me the origin of 'stinking cold', as in 'I have a stinking cold'. Personally, I have no idea and there's nothing in our archive. I reckon it's just another emphasising adjective, but does anyone have any detail?
Thanks

There is no way that Briggsey cannot be right on this one. At least, in the U.S. there would be no doubt at all that someone with a "stinking cold" is just trying to say how thoroughly annoyed he is. SS