int. Obs. exc. arch. Also 9 wouns; 7–8 wauns, 8 waund(s; dial. 8–9 wuns. [pl. of wound: see WOUND sb. 1 c.] God’s wounds; used as an oath or asseveration.
α. 1610. Dekker, Shoemaker’s Holiday, D 1. Wounds then farewell.
1753. Foote, Englishm. Paris, I. 14. But Wounds how the Powder flew about.
1801. G. Colman, Poor Gentl., I. i. 4. Wouns! let me come at him.
1820. Keats, Cap & Bells, lxii. ‘Wounds! how they shout!’ said Hum.
1822. Scott, Nigel, ix. Wouns! man, we’ll stuff his stomach with English land.
β. 1694. Echard, Plautus, 14. Waunds! I ha’nt let fly sure.
1706. Farquhar, Recruit. Officer, I. i. Wauns! I wish again that my Wife lay there.
1728. Cibber & Vanbr., Provok’d Husb., IV. 65. Waund, he’ll storm any thing. Ibid., 68. Waunds! you have had one hundred this Morning.
1796. T. Morton, Way to get Married, II. ii. (1800), 33. Clem. Who’s at the door? Serv. Wauns I forgot. It be maister Dashall fra Lunnon.
γ. c. 1746. J. Collier (Tim Bobbin), View Lanc. Dial., Reader, Wks. (1862), p. xxxiv. Wuns eigh; theawrt likt’ strowll ogen.
1843. T. Wilson, Pitman’s Pay, 57. ‘Wuns’ says aw, ‘this rough beginnin’ … freightens me.’
