laws-a-mercy

English

Interjection

laws-a-mercy

1. (Southern US, Appalachia, possibly dated) A minced oath for "Lord have mercy".
   • 1856, Invisible Green, William G.] [Crippen, Green Peas: Picked from the Patch of Invisible Green, Esq. ..., page 160:

     "Laws-a-mercy!" exclaimed the old lady," I wonder if you kin tell true?" "The science never fails," replied a voice we had heard before. "Will you choose clairvoyance or the cards?" "It does not matter a mite to me."

   • 1859, F Claudius Armstrong, The Lily of Devon, page 172:

     "Laws-a-mercy! I gets eight pounds, and Mrs. Jones, thirty pounds and perquisites; and you, a young lady, that knows so much. Laws-a-mercy! what a shame."

   • 1895, Lilian Bell, A Little Sister to the Wilderness, page 225:

     "[...] laws-a-mercy! Laws-a-mercy! What shall we do? Everybody that can get away will light out, and who will hep those that have to stay?"