Revised 2017
† Zoodikersinterjection
Factsheet
What does the interjection Zoodikers mean?
There is one meaning in OED's entry for the interjection Zoodikers. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.
This word is now obsolete. It is last recorded around the late 1700s.
Where does the interjection Zoodikers come from?
Earliest known use
mid 1700s
The earliest known use of the interjection Zoodikers is in the mid 1700s.
OED's earliest evidence for Zoodikers is from 1749, in the writing of Henry Fielding, author and magistrate.
Zoodikers is probably a variant or alteration of another lexical item.
Etymons: Zookers int.
Nearby entries
- zoochemistry, n.1835–
- zoochlorella, n.1882–
- zoochore, n.1904–
- zoochorous, adj.1904–
- zoochory, n.1921–
- zoo-crazy, adj.1938–
- zoocultural, adj.1899–
- zooculture, n.1873–
- zoocytium, n.1880–
- zoodendrium, n.1880–
- Zoodikers, int.1749–98
- zoodynamic, adj.?1819–
- zoodynamics, n.1888–
- zooecial, adj.1873–
- zooecium, n.1871–
- zooerythrin, n.1871–
- zooflagellate, n. & adj.1911–
- zooful, n.1914–
- zoofulvin, n.1871–
- zoogamete, n.1879–
- zoogene, n.1820–69
Etymology
Probably an alteration (with insertion of a medial syllable ‑di‑, perhaps after God's bodikins! and ods bodikins! at bodikin n. 2) of Zookers int.Compare earlier Zooks int.…
Probably an alteration (with insertion of a medial syllable ‑di‑, perhaps after God's bodikins! and ods bodikins! at bodikin n. 2) of Zookers int.Compare earlier Zooks int.
Notes
New English Dictionary (OED first edition) (1921) gives the pronunciation as (zū·dikəɹz) /ˈzuːdɪkəz/ .
Meaning & use
Obsolete. rare.
- 1749–98Used as an oath or exclamation expressing asseveration, surprise, etc. Cf. Zookers int., Zooks int., zoonters int.
- 1749
Zoodikers! She'd have the Wedding to-Night.
H. Fielding, Tom Jones vol. VI. xviii. xii. 289 - 1798
Zoodikers!
J. Ebers, New & Compl. Dictionary German & English Language vol. II. at Poß!
- Zooks1600–Used as an oath or exclamation expressing asseveration, surprise, etc. Cf. Gadzooks, int., Zookers, int., Zoodikers, int.
- Zookers1620–Used as an oath or exclamation expressing asseveration, surprise, etc. Cf. Zooks, int., Zoodikers, int., zoonters, int.
- Gadzooksa1652–Used as a mild oath to express surprise, alarm, etc., or to affirm the truth of a statement. Cf. Godzooks, int., Gadzookers, int.
- Gadzookers1672–Used as a mild oath to express surprise, alarm, etc., or to affirm the truth of a statement; = Gadzooks, int.
- adzooks1675–Used as an oath to express asseveration, surprise, etc.
- odzookers1688–1884
- odzooks1688–1895
- cotzooks1705–19As an asseveration or exclamation.
- Zoodikers1749–98Used as an oath or exclamation expressing asseveration, surprise, etc. Cf. Zookers, int., Zooks, int., zoonters, int.
- od's wucks1785–1850