Meanings
alternative 'zounds
- datedminced oathExpressing anger, surprise, assertion etc.
"Zounds!" he exclaimed. "What the dickens is that?"
1900, J.C. Hutcheson, Bob Strong's Holidays2 more examples
'Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat, to scratch a man to death!
c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)Bounds, mounds, lounds, founds, kounds, downds, rounds, pounds, zounds! — hounds — ha! hounds — I have it.
1870, R.M. Ballantyne, The Floating Light of the Goodwin SandsSynonyms: gadswoons, 'swounds, 'dswounds, zooterkins
Synonyms & antonyms
interjectionExpressing anger, surprise, assertion etc.
Origin
Minced form of God's wounds, with reference to the wounds from Christ's crucifixion. Compare strewth, blimey, gadzooks, 'sblood, crikey.
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with zounds
All rhymes →Cite this entry
zounds. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zounds
“zounds.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zounds. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “zounds,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zounds.
Source: zounds on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.