'sblood

English

Etymology

Minced form of God's blood. Primarily from the Middle Ages up to the early modern era, and to a rare extent today, people would curse on God's or 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 in the form of wine.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /zblʌd/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ʌd

Interjection

'sblood

1. (archaic, minced oath) 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, [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, [Act III, scene ii]:

     "'Sblood, do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?"

   • 1846, Alexandre Dumas, chapter 5, in William Barrow, transl., The Three Musketeers, page 62:

     "S'blood; does that astonish you?"

Translations

exclamation indicating surprise or emphasis

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

See also

• blimey
• bloody
• gadzooks
• ods bodikin
• 'sdeath
• 'sheart
• 'struth, strewth
• 'zounds, zounds

Anagrams

• Bloods, bloods