Heck, criminey, zounds...these exclamations, known as minced oaths, have been used for centuries to express frustration or surprise without giving offense. Pseudo-profanities date to ancient Greece. During the time Socrates was edifying Athenians, the king disapproved of the populous swearing to the gods. He made it a crime to do so, and they began swearing to trees, birds and rocks.
The invention of the printing press,the rise in literacy, and the power of the church led to a flowering of minced oaths. Many phrases thought to be Elizabethan colloquialisms were created to avoid using the Lord's name in vain.
Ods Bodikins- By God's body or over God's body//Zounds - God's wounds//Gadzooks - By God's hooks (nails on the cross)//Begorrah - By God
Time did little to change this editorial practice. Words that passed muster in earlier times, were revised by later generations. 19th century editor, Thomas Bowdler tamed some of Shakespeare's phrases and lent his name to the process of rewording existing works - bowdlerization.
Two of my favorite minced oaths are in common parlance today and few know their origins. Before Disney, Jiminy Cricket was an interjection used in place of Jesus Christ. Before Bart Simpson, Desi Arnez introduced "Ay, Caramba" to America's TV audience. This is a Spanish pseudo-profanity. Ay - being an exclamation for pain and caramba being a minced oath for the male genitalia.
Think of that the next time you catch an I Love Lucy rerun and hear Desi say, "Ay caramba Lucy, you can't be in the show" - as ever BB
