odzookens

Attested from the 19th century. Compare gadzooks from God’s hooks, ods bodikin from God’s bodkins, both allusions to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

odzookens

1. (archaic) Expression of surprise or shock, my God, wow!
   • 1897, John Bennett, Master Skylark‎, page 138:

     “Here, here, odzookens, lad!” grinned the workman, stoldily, “thou ’lt vetch t’ river up if weeps zo ha-ard. Ztop un, ztop un ; do now.”

   • 1905, Mary Catherine Crowley, The Heroine of the Strait, page 344:

     “His wife, you say, Mr. Sterling?” repeated Bradstreet testily. “Odzookens, I’ll have no tomfoolery or play-acting. Take her away, take her away.”

• See Thesaurus:wow