'sblood

English

Etymology

Shortened from God's blood. Primarily in the Middle Ages and up to the early modern era and to a rare extent today, people would curse on God/Christ's body parts rather than breaking the second commandment (not to use the Lord's name in vain oaths). In this case, the exclamation refers to Christ's blood shed during the crucifixion and the Eucharist under the form of wine.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /zblʌd/
Audio (Berkshire, UK) (file)
Rhymes: -ʌd

Interjection

'sblood

(archaic) An exclamation formerly used as an oath, and an expression of anger or wonder.
- c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act III, scene iii]:
  'Sblood, I would my face were in your belly.
- c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act III, scene ii]:
  "'Sblood, do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?"
- 1846, William Barrow (translating Alexandre Dumas), The Three Musketeers, chapter 5 page 62
  "S'blood; does that astonish you?"

Translations

exclamation indicating surprise or emphasis

French: palsambleu (fr), parsambleu (fr)
German: Huch

Anagrams

Bloods, bloods