'sblood

Table of contents

1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Interjection 1.3 See also

English

Etymology

From God's blood; in medieval times, people would curse on God's body parts rather than breaking the third commandment (Do not use the Lord's name in vain oaths). In this case, the exclamation refers to Christ's blood shed during the crucifixion and commemorated by the drinking of wine during communion.

Interjection

'sblood!

1. Archaic An exclamation formerly used as an oath, and an expression of anger or wonder.

   quotations

   • "'Sblood, I would my face were in your belly."
     — King Henry the Fourth Part 1, Act 3, Scene 3, William Shakespeare
   • "Yea, for obtaining of suits, whereof the hangman
     hath no lean wardrobe. 'Sblood, I am as melancholy..."
     — King Henry the Fourth Part 1, Act 1, Scene 2, William Shakespeare
   • "'Sblood! an arrant traitor as any is in the
     universal world, or in France, or in England"
     — King Henry the Fifth, Act 4, Scene 8, William Shakespeare

See also

• odds bodkin
• gadzooks
• 'zounds , zounds
• 'sdeath
• 'struth , strewth
• blimey
• bloody