od's niggers

English

Alternative forms

• odd's niggers

Etymology

Corruption of God's diggers (“God's fingernails”).

Interjection

od's niggers

1. (obsolete) Exclamation of surprise, anger etc.
   • 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC:

     [T]he landlord, starting up at the well known sound, cried, “Odd's niggers! there is the commodore with his company, as sure as I live!”

   • 1835, anonymous author, “Husbands and Wives”, in Alexander's Modern Acting Drama, volume II:

     Odd's niggers! they ha' lock'd the door; I must clamber over the wall and get round the front.

   • 1889, Arthur Conan Doyle, Micah Clarke:

     If my father did but drink a cup of small beer more than his wont, or did break out upon provocation into any fond oath, as “Od's niggers!” or “Heart alive!” he would mourn over it as though it were the seven deadly sins.