A ludicrous oath.

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1848.  

          Sez Mister Foote,
  “I should like to shoot
The holl gang, by the gret horn spoon!” sez he.
‘Biglow Papers’ No. 5.    

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1853.  ‘By the horn spoons!’ repeated the skipper suddenly, stamping his foot as if to give energy and resolution to the words.—Knick. Mag., xli. 115 (Feb.).

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