Zounds

Pronunciation

• IPA: /zuːndz/
• IPA: /zaÊŠndz/ (spelling pronunciation)

Alternative forms

• 'zounds
• zooterkins

Origin

Abbreviation of God's wounds, with reference to Christ's wounds before the crucifixion. Compare strewth, blimey, gadzooks, 'sblood.

Full definition of zounds

Interjection

1. Expressing anger, surprise, assertion etc.
• 'Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat, to scratch a man to death! — William Shakespeare, "Romeo and Juliet", 1597
• Bounds, mounds, lounds, founds, kounds, downds, rounds, pounds, zounds! — hounds — ha! hounds — I have it. — R.M. Ballantyne, "The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands", 1870
• "Zounds!" he exclaimed. "What the dickens is that?" — John Conroy Hutcheson, "Bob Strong's Holidays", 1900