zounds

Abbreviation of God's wounds, with reference to the wounds from Christ's crucifixion. Compare strewth, blimey, gadzooks, 'sblood, crikey.

• IPA^(key): /zaʊndz/, /zuːndz/

zounds

1. (chiefly dated) Expressing anger, surprise, assertion etc.
   • 1597, Shakespeare, "Romeo and Juliet"

     'Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat, to scratch a man to death!

   • 1870, R.M. Ballantyne, "The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands"

     Bounds, mounds, lounds, founds, kounds, downds, rounds, pounds, zounds! — hounds — ha! hounds — I have it.

   • 1900, J.C. Hutcheson, "Bob Strong's Holidays"

     "Zounds!" he exclaimed. "What the dickens is that?"

• 'zounds

• 'swounds
• 'dswounds
• zooterkins