zounds

See also: 'zounds

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /zuːndz/

Interjection

zounds

  1. (chiefly dated) Expressing anger, surprise, assertion etc.
    • 'Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat, to scratch a man to death! — Shakespeare, "Romeo and Juliet", 1597
    • Bounds, mounds, lounds, founds, kounds, downds, rounds, pounds, zounds! — hounds — ha! hounds — I have it. — R.M. Ballantyne, "The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands", 1870
    • "Zounds!" he exclaimed. "What the dickens is that?" — J.C. Hutcheson, "Bob Strong's Holidays", 1900
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