od's niggers

English

Alternative forms
  • odd's niggers

Etymology

Corruption of God's diggers (“God's fingernails”).

Interjection

odd's niggers

  1. (obsolete) Exclamation of surprise, anger etc.
    • 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, chapter 2, in The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume I, London: Harrison and Co., […], published 1781, OCLC 316121541:
      [T]he landlord, starting up at the well known sound, cried, “Odd's niggers! there is the commodore with his company, as sure as I live!”
    • 1835, Anonymous, Husbands and Wives, in Alexander's Modern Acting Drama, vol. II:
      Odd's niggers! they ha' lock'd the door; I must clamber over the wall and get round the front.
    • 1889, Arthur Conan Doyle, Micah Clarke:
      If my father did but drink a cup of small beer more than his wont, or did break out upon provocation into any fond oath, as “Od's niggers!” or “Heart alive!” he would mourn over it as though it were the seven deadly sins.
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