blood and ouns

English

Noun

blood and ouns (uncountable)

1. (archaic, dialectal) The blood and wounds of Christ on the cross.
   • 1996, Harry Blamires, The New Bloomsday Book: A Guide Through Ulysses, →ISBN, page 3:

     Stephen watches Mulligan from the staircase as he mockingly blesses his surroundings and offers to an imaginary congregation the "body and soul and blood and ouns" (wounds) of a female Christ, "christine", ...

Interjection

blood and ouns

1. (archaic, dialectal, mildly blasphemous) Expression of surprise, contempt, outrage, disgust, boredom, frustration.
   • 1807, Colman Jr., The Mountaineers, in The English and American Stage - Volume 13, page 36:

     Och, blood an ouns! what can the matter be !

   • 1833, The New Theatrical Observer and Censor of the Stage, page 70:

     Blood an 'ouns can't you say something.

   • 1840, Margaret Baron-Wilson, Chronicles of life, page 77:

     She laughed, and blood and ouns ! I heard the expression and kissed them all round, ay, the heiress herself!