'sfoot

'sfoot

English

Alternative forms

• fut (obsolete)

Etymology

A style of oath appearing in Jacobean drama in the 17th century.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ʊt

Interjection

'sfoot

1. (obsolete) A contraction of "God's foot"; an oath.
   • 1602, William Shakespeare, The History of Troilus and Cressida:

     ’Sfoot, I’ll learn to conjure and raise devils

   • 1604-1616. Thomas Dekker and Thomas Middleton, The Honest Whore:

     Again, again, as God judge me: ’sfoot, cuz, they stand thrumming here with me all day, and yet I get nothing.

     ’Sfoot, my wit bleeds for’t, methinks.

   • 1611, Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, King and No King:

     ’Sfoot, what a bevy of beaten slaves are here!

   • 1814. Ralph Griffiths, George Edward Griffiths, The Monthly Review, Page 234:

     “’Sfoot,” Mr. Editor, — what exquisite nonsense hast thou here suffered to pass wholly unnoticed?

References

• Medieval and Renaissance Drama in England By John Pitcher, Fairleigh Dickinson University Press: 2001, page 18.

Anagrams

• foots, fotos