zounds
intj/zuːndz/ · /zaʊndz/
Etymology Minced form of God's wounds, with reference to the wounds from Christ's crucifixion. Compare strewth, blimey, gadzooks, 'sblood, crikey.
1
Dated Expressing anger, surprise, assertion etc.
- 'Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat, to scratch a man to death!c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
- Bounds, mounds, lounds, founds, kounds, downds, rounds, pounds, zounds! — hounds — ha! hounds — I have it.1870, R.M. Ballantyne, The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands:
1 more example
- "Zounds!" he exclaimed. "What the dickens is that?"1900, J.C. Hutcheson, Bob Strong's Holidays:
- Synonyms
- gadswoons, 'swounds, 'dswounds, zooterkins