Obs. Also 7 ud’s, udds, udz. [Minced form of God’s, possessive of GOD sb., or of God s’ = God save. Cf. ADS and ODS.] A form of the name of God common in expletive oaths in the 17th century.
1. In possessive phrases (cf. GOD sb. 14), frequently written as one word, as Ud’s blood, bluff, bobblekens, -bows, -bud, -buddikins, etc.
1607. Dekker & Webster, Northw. Hoe, II. i. *Vds bloud ile laie him crosse vpon his coxcomb next daie.
1664. H. Bold, Poems, 162. They swore Udz niggs, we swore *Udz bluffe.
1681. T. Flatman, Heraclitus Ridens, No. 42 (1713), II. 21. *Udds Bobblekens, quoth he, I were wet to the skin.
1684. D’Urfey, Sev. New Songs, 9. *Udsbows, cries my Country-man John, Was ever the like before seen?
1681. Otway, Soldier’s Fort., II. i. Ah! *udds-bud, they’d … have stript for t’other Bottle.
1689. Shadwell, Bury F., II. 19. A very good jest! Udsbud, there’s a pair of Gloves of the same mettle, to stop your pretty Mouth.
1740. trans. De Mouhy’s Fort. Country Maid (1741), I. 59 *Udsbuddikins, were I in Colin’s Place, I know what I would do.
1607. Dekker & Webster, Westw. Hoe, V. iii. *Vds Daggers? cannot sinne be set a shore once in a raigne vpon your Country quarters, but it must haue fidling?
1821. Scott, Kenilw., iii. Uds daggers! I tell thee, man, mine own stock of assurance was too small to trade upon.
1607. Dekker & Webster, Westw. Hoe, IV. ii. *Vds death speake, or ile kil thee.
1702. Vanbrugh, False Friend, II. i. Keep a woman honest? Udsdeath! I’d as soon undertake to keep Portocarero honest!
1854. H. Ainsworth, Flitch of Bacon, I. v. 43. ‘Udsdeath! I wish he hadn’t arrested him here,’ the landlord said.
1698. Motteux, Quix. (1733), I. 269. *Uds-diggers, quoth Sancho, I know her full well.
a. 1586. Sidney, Pansies Penshurst & Wilton, vi. Doth she call the faith of man In question? nay; *’uds foot, she loves thee than.
1608. Day, Hum. out of Br., IV. iii. Vdsfoot, your iaylor, my lord.
1623. Webster, Devil’s Law-Case, IV. ii. Vd’s foot, we are spoyled.
1630. Dekker, 2nd Pt. Honest Wh., IV. i. Vds foot, Giue me some meate.
1676. D’Urfey, Madam Fickle, III. i. *Udshash! I’d like to have spoil’d all, I took him for a Morrice-Dancer.
1614. J. Cooke, Greene’s Tu Quoque, E 1 b. *Vdslid, I’le not be out-brau’d. Ibid. Vdslid, I am gleek’t this time. Ibid., H 3 b. *Vds’life, this is excellent: now she talkes.
1706. Vanbrugh, Mistake, I. 92. Udslife! Sir! attack her with a fiddle!
1611. Middleton & Dekker, Roaring Girl, II. ii. *Vds light the tide’s against me.
1618. N. Field, Amends for Ladies, I. (1639), B 2 b. Vd’slight whats the matter, wring him by the nose.
1632. Massinger & Field, Fatal Dowry, II. ii. Vd’s-light, enioy your wishes.
1680. Dryden, Limberham, IV. i. Saint. *Uds Niggers, but I will…. Wood. Uds Niggers, I confess, is a very dreadful Oath.
1664. *Uds nigs [see Uds bluff above].
1719. D’Urfey, Pills, IV. 96. Uds nigs, quoth I, what a Kirk beth’ here.
1614. J. Cooke, Greene’s Tu Quoque, B 2 b. *Vds pitty! unbutton man, thou’lt stifle her else.
1613. Beaum. & Fl., Honest Man’s Fort., II. iv. *Udsprecious, we have lost a brother.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., iv. Uds precious! madam, what make you here out of bounds?
1611. Middleton & Dekker, Roaring Girl, IV. ii. K ij. *Vds so Mol, where’s that Trapdore?
1659. Lady Alimony, II. i. B iij b. Uds so, will their dainty fingers tug in Alume work?
1695. Congreve, Love for L., I. vi. Udso that’s true, Mr. Valentine, I love Mirth, but Business must be done.
1697. Vanbrugh, Relapse, V. v. *Udsookers! they set my old blood a-fire!
1777. Sheridan, Trip Scarb., V. ii. Udzookers! Now six words more, and I’ll forgive them directly.
1611. Middleton & Dekker, Roaring Girl, IV. ii. I iij. *Vd’ soule do but name that rascall.
1697. Vanbrugh, Relapse, III. v. *Udswoons! I’ll give my wench a wedding-dinner. Ibid. (1698), Æsop, II. 457. *‘Udzwooks!’ quoth he, ‘With all your meat, I will maintain a dish of pease … Is much a better treat.’
1721. Amherst, Terræ Fil., No. 44 (1726), 236. Udzooks, I believe ’tis the hugest varsity alive.
2. In Uds me, uds my life: see GOD sb. 8 b.
1635. [Glapthorne], Lady Mother, IV. i., in Bullen, O. Pl. (1883), II. 169. Udsme, my lady!
1668. Dryden, Maiden Queen, V. i. Uds my life! here’s the queen’s music just going to us.
1702. Farquhar, Inconstant, II. ii. Uds my life—here’s one.
