† ˈbodikin, bodikie Obs.
Also bodkin.
[dim. of body n.: see -kin2, -kie.]
1. A diminutive body; a corpuscle, an atom.
| 1668 Culpepper & Cole Barthol. Anat. ii. vi. 106 Small Boddikies or indivisible Particles of the Blood..If any reliques of the said Bodikies did remain. 1721–1800 Bailey, Bodykin, a little body. Obs. |
2. (God's, ods) bodikins! bodkins! (bodlikins!) God's dear body!: an oath. Cf. body n.4.
| 1598 Shakes. Merry W. ii. iii. 46 Body-kins M. Page. 1602 ― Ham. ii. ii. 554 Gods bodykins [Qq. Bodkin] man, better. 1733 Fielding Quix. in Eng. ii. viii, Odsbodlikins..you have a strange sort of a taste. 1753 Smollett Ct. Fathom (1784) 63/1 As for the matter of dress, bodlikins! |