zoundshttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zounds_int%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezounds, int.
First published 1921; not fully revised

zoundsinterjection

Now rare or Obsolete. In later use a literary archaism.
  1. a1593–
    = God's wounds int. at god n. & int. Phrases P.3b.i, used in oaths and asseverations.
    1. a1593
      Zounds hee'l raise vp a kennell of Diuels.
      C. Marlowe, Tragicall History Faustus (1616) sig. E4v
    2. a1593
      'Zons, hornes againe.
      C. Marlowe, Tragicall History Faustus (1616) sig. F3
    3. 1600
      One comes sweating, zoones Cobler the bootes.
      R. Armin, Foole vpon Foole sig. F3
    4. 1600
      If any fall together by the eares, To field cries he; why? zownes (to field) he sweares.
      S. Rowlands, Letting of Humors Blood Sat. v. 72
    5. 1607
      Zwounds I was talking with a crue of vagabonds.
      T. Dekker & J. Webster, Famous History of Thomas Wyat sig. E4
    6. 1614
      Spend. M. Rash! zownds how does he know I am here?
      J. Cooke, Greenes Tu Quoque C 2
    7. a1616
      Zounds, I was neuer so bethumpt with words.
      W. Shakespeare, King John (1623) ii. i. 467
    8. 1682
      Dzowns, we'l have none but honest Souls.
      Tories' Conf. in Roxburghe Ballads (1882) vol. IV. 269
    9. 1699
      Zoons is only us'd by the disbanded Officers and Bullies: but Zauns is the Beaux pronuncation [sic].
      G. Farquhar, Love & Bottle ii. ii. 16
    10. 1712
      'Dswounds! why dost thou not lay out thy Money to purchase a Place at Court..?
      J. Arbuthnot, John Bull Still in Senses ix. 42
    11. 1739
      Zoons, Sir, said an old Campaigner..who's that?
      Joe Miller's Jests 3
    12. 1809
      Syntax look'd wild—the man said ‘Zounds! You know you betted twenty pounds.’
      W. Combe, Schoolmaster's Tour in Poetical Magazine November 150
    13. 1821
      Zoons! said we, deranging the economy of our grey hairs.
      Sporting Magazine (N.S.) vol. VII. 180
    14. 1846
      Zounds, Charles, I love you, and that's the truth.
      E. Bulwer-Lytton, Lucretia vol. I. i. i. 38
    15. 1883
      Forgiven me! Zounds! I must correct him in that.
      Fortnightly Review July 111

zounds, int. was first published in 1921; not fully revised.

zounds, int. was last modified in June 2025.