Zookers, int.

zookers
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zookers_int%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2017

# Zookersinterjection

## Earlier version

- Zookers, int. in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the interjection Zookers mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the interjection Zookers. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

### How common is the interjection Zookers?

Fewer than 0.01occurrences per million words in modern written English

1750 | 0.0014
1760 | 0.0016
1770 | 0.0019
1780 | 0.0021
1790 | 0.0017
1800 | 0.0025
1810 | 0.0026
1820 | 0.0028
1830 | 0.0026
1840 | 0.0021
1850 | 0.0017
1860 | 0.0015
1870 | 0.0008
1880 | 0.0007
1890 | 0.0006
1900 | 0.0006
1910 | 0.0006
1920 | 0.0006
1930 | 0.0003
1940 | 0.0003
1950 | 0.0002
1960 | 0.0001
1970 | 0.0001
1980 | 0.0002
1990 | 0.0001
2000 | 0.0001
2010 | 0.0002

### How is the interjection Zookers pronounced?

#### British English

/ˈzuːkəz/
ZOO-kuhz
/ˈzʊkəz/
ZUUK-uhz

#### U.S. English

/ˈzukərz/
ZOO-kuhrz

### Where does the interjection Zookers come from?

Earliest known use

early 1600s

The earliest known use of the interjection Zookers is in the early 1600s.

OED's earliest evidence for Zookers is from 1620, in a translation by Thomas Shelton, translator.

Zookers is apparently formed within English, by clipping or shortening.

Etymons: Gadzookers int.

### Nearby entries

1. zoographically, adv. 1835–
2. zoographist, n. 1749–1874
3. zoography, n. 1593–
4. zoogyroscope, n. 1880–
5. zooid, n. 1851–
6. zooid, adj. 1849
7. zooidal, adj. 1858–
8. zooidogamous, adj. 1891–
9. zookeeper, n. 1886–
10. zookeeping, n. 1929–
11. Zookers, int.1620–
12. Zooks, int. 1600–
13. zoolater, n. 1876–
14. zoolatrous, adj. 1876–
15. zoolatry, n. 1784–
16. zoolite, n. 1768–
17. zoologer, n. 1663–
18. zoologic, adj. 1766–
19. zoological, adj. & n. 1686–
20. zoological garden, n. 1827–
21. zoologically, adv. 1799–

## Etymology

### Summary

Apparently formed within English, by clipping or shortening.
Etymon: Gadzookers int.
Apparently short for Gadzookers int. (although this is apparently first attested later).

Compare earlier Zooks int. Compare also earlier God's sokinges int. at god n. & int. Phrases P.3b.iii and later Godsokers int.…
Apparently short for Gadzookers int. (although this is apparently first attested later).

Compare earlier Zooks int. Compare also earlier God's sokinges int. at god n. & int. Phrases P.3b.iii and later Godsokers int.

### Notes

With form Zwookers compare β forms at Gadzookers int.

## Meaning & use

Now rare (chiefly archaic or humorous).

1. 1620–
   Used as an oath or exclamation expressing asseveration, surprise, etc. Cf. Zooks int., Zoodikers int., zoonters int.
   1. 1620

      > Zwookers [Spanish Voto a Rus] (quoth Sancho) Ile not giue a farthing to know what is past.

      T. Shelton, translation of M. de Cervantes, 2nd Part Don Quixote xxv. 166
   2. 1632

      > Zookers had I one of you zingle with this twigge, I would so veeze you.

      P. Massinger, Emperour of East iv. i. sig. H3
   3. 1753

      > I had proceeded by Fegs, 'Faith, Pox, Plague, 'pon my life, 'pon my soul, Rat it, and Zookers, to Zauns, and the divill.

      Scots Magazine October 491/1
   4. 1761

      > Zookers, that money—Oh! I am going to blab—.

      A. Murphy, Way to keep Him (ed. 4) v. 101
   5. 1815

      > Zookers! if measter Bore'em were to pop in!

      Sixteen & Sixty ii. ii, in New British Theatre vol. IV. 387
   6. 1854

      > ‘I've..Seen him make love to another woman.’ ‘To Mrs. Nettlebed?’ ‘Zookers! no.’

      W. H. Ainsworth, Flitch of Bacon iv
   7. 1918

      > ‘Ventre bleu! Sacre bleu! Zookers!’ said he.

      J. Farnol, Our Admirable Betty 14
   8. 1976

      > Zookers, but ye've grown!

      L. Sprague de Camp, Balsamo's Mirror in Magazine Fantasy & Science Fiction June 150/1
   archaic humorous
   1. Zooks 1600–
      Used as an oath or exclamation expressing asseveration, surprise, etc. Cf. Gadzooks, int., Zookers, int., Zoodikers, int.
   2. Zookers 1620–
      Used as an oath or exclamation expressing asseveration, surprise, etc. Cf. Zooks, int., Zoodikers, int., zoonters, int.
   3. Gadzooks a1652–
      Used as a mild oath to express surprise, alarm, etc., or to affirm the truth of a statement. Cf. Godzooks, int., Gadzookers, int.
   4. Gadzookers 1672–
      Used as a mild oath to express surprise, alarm, etc., or to affirm the truth of a statement; = Gadzooks, int.
   5. adzooks 1675–
      Used as an oath to express asseveration, surprise, etc.
   6. odzookers 1688–1884
   7. odzooks 1688–1895
   8. cotzooks 1705–19
      As an asseveration or exclamation.
   9. Zoodikers 1749–98
      Used as an oath or exclamation expressing asseveration, surprise, etc. Cf. Zookers, int., Zooks, int., zoonters, int.
   10. od's wucks 1785–1850
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˈzuːkəz/
ZOO-kuhz
/ˈzʊkəz/
ZUUK-uhz

### U.S. English

/ˈzukərz/
ZOO-kuhrz

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.

##### Consonants

b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values

- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige

##### Vowels

- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot

## Forms

### Variant forms

1. 1600s
   Zwookers
2. 1600s–
   Zookers

## Frequency

Zookers typically occurs fewer than 0.01 times per million words in modern written English.

Zookers is in frequency band 1, which contains words occurring fewer than 0.001 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

### Frequency of Zookers, int., 1750–2010

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.

The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.

For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.

Decade | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
1750 | 0.0014
1760 | 0.0016
1770 | 0.0019
1780 | 0.0021
1790 | 0.0017
1800 | 0.0025
1810 | 0.0026
1820 | 0.0028
1830 | 0.0026
1840 | 0.0021
1850 | 0.0017
1860 | 0.0015
1870 | 0.0008
1880 | 0.0007
1890 | 0.0006
1900 | 0.0006
1910 | 0.0006
1920 | 0.0006
1930 | 0.0003
1940 | 0.0003
1950 | 0.0002
1960 | 0.0001
1970 | 0.0001
1980 | 0.0002
1990 | 0.0001
2000 | 0.0001
2010 | 0.0002

## Compounds & derived words

Sort by

1. odzookers, int. 1688–1884

1. Zoodikers, int. 1749–98
   Used as an oath or exclamation expressing…

Zookers, int. was revised in June 2017.

Zookers, int. was last modified in July 2023.