Gadzooks

[ gad-zooks ]

/ ˌgædˈzuks /

interjection Archaic.

(used as a mild oath.)

Also Odzooks, Odzookers.

Origin of Gadzooks

1645–55; perhaps representing God's hooks (i.e., the nails of Christ's Cross); cf. Gad

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for gadzooks

Gadzooks, a most ingenious contrivance—if we were to go through with it.
Love for Love|William Congreve
The poor fish claps his hand to his forehead and cries 'Gadzooks!
The Adventures of Sally|P. G. Wodehouse
Gadzooks, Jenny, will I never get sense or liberality into your head?
The Evil Eye; Or, The Black Spector|William Carleton
Well, this Mr. Summerfield is a brave Fellow, Gadzooks he is.
The City Bride (1696)|Joseph Harris

Gadzooks, neighbors, but I shouldn't be a whit surprised if that old party is a duke in disguise!
The Frontiersmen|Charles Egbert Craddock

British Dictionary definitions for gadzooks

gadzooks

/ (ɡædˈzuːks) /

interjection

archaic a mild oath

Word Origin for gadzooks

C17: perhaps from God's hooks (the nails of the cross); see Gad 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012