Meanings
- archaicminced oathAn exclamation formerly used as an oath, and an expression of anger or wonder.
"S'blood; does that astonish you?"
1846, Alexandre Dumas, chapter 5, in William Barrow, transl., The Three Musketeers, page 622 more examples
'Sblood, I would my face were in your belly.
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, do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?"
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]
Synonyms & antonyms
Origin
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.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
French palsambleu, parsambleu
- palsambleuexclamation indicating surprise or emphasis
- parsambleuexclamation indicating surprise or emphasis
German Huch
- Huchexclamation indicating surprise or emphasis
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with 'sblood
Cite this entry
'sblood. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/'sblood
“'sblood.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/'sblood. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “'sblood,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/'sblood.
Source: 'sblood on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.