Green’s Dictionary of Slang

Jove n.

In exclamations

by Jove! (also by Joves!)

by God!

c.1600		Timon in Dyce (1842) I v: I goe a fidling? noe, not I, by Joue!
1608		Machin & Markham Dumbe Knight I i: Here you shall sweare by hope, by heauen, by Ioue [...] So help you Ioue.
1621		Jonson Masque of the Gipsies in Q. Horatius Flaccus (1640) 70: Well, theres my two-pence; Ile bee jovy: my name’s Cockrell, and I am true bred.
1633		S. Marmion Fine Companion IV v: Never none by Ioue.
c.1635		W. Cartwright Ordinary IV ii: If that thou dost, by Jove I’ll strangle thee.
c.1642		T. Killigrew Parson’s Wedding (1664) V iv: An Italian salad, which I’ll dress for you, by Jove.
1685		‘The London Lad’s Lamentation’ in Ebsworth Roxburghe Ballads (1893) VII:1 110: You I love (by Jove) I do, more than all things here below.
1697		Female Wits III i: My coat is as full of wrinkles as an old woman’s face, by jove.
1713		W. King York Spy 30: By Jove, said he, an untouch’d Angel.
1721		Joke upon Joke 3: By Great Jove, Most Noble Dukes, I’ll Petticoat with you all.
1737		H. Carey Dragon of Wantley I iii: By Jove! I’m blown. Zounds!
1749		[song title] By Jove I’ll Be Free.
c.1750		‘A New Song’ Tom-Tit Pt 2 6: By Jove I’d toss’d it up.
1775		Sheridan Rivals (1776) II i: The ancients would never stick to an oath or two, but would say, by Jove! or by Bacchus! or by Mars!
c.1790		‘Cappoquin’ Luke Caffrey’s Gost 6: For Cappoquin (by Jove) doth bear the sway.
1800		‘Britannia’s Sons at Sea’ Jovial Songster 5: I once to sea did go, / Return’d, she cry’d by Jove, / I’m marry’d, dearest Joe.
1818		‘Thomas Brown’ Fudge Family in Paris Letter VIII 79: By Jove, I went crack.
1821		Egan Life in London (1869) 333: ‘By Jove,’ said the Corinthian, ‘we are nearly too late.’.
1838		R. Nicholson Cockney Adventures 24 Mar. 166: There’s a devil. She means mischief, by Jove.
1848		G.W.M. Reynolds Mysteries of London II (2nd Ser.) 56: And, by Jove! [...] this is strange!
1853		‘Cuthbert Bede’ Adventures of Mr Verdant Green (1982) I 6: By Jove! you couldn’t sit down for a fortnight without squeaking.
1866		Broad Arrow Jack 5: ‘By Jove!’ he exclaimed.
1878		‘’Arry on the Turf’ in Punch 29 Nov. 297/1: If it weren’t for the race-course, by Jove, British grit would be jest about lost.
1885		Bulletin (Sydney) 28 Feb. 10/2: ‘By Jove, old man, you must have walked into the nectar divine pretty stiff last night! How much did you score on your own account?’ ‘Seven bottles.’.
1890		Sporting Times 15 Mar. 1/5: Apology’s son / The Lincolnshire won, / And won, sir, by Jove! in a walk!
1895		Truth (Sydney) 28 Apr. 1/5: A month’s notice at any time might make him one of the unemployed. Bai Jove!
1900		Marvel 22 May 3: He must have had an early start, by Jove!
1911		Boys’ Best 20 Oct. 45: By jove, there’s the ten o’clock train.
1926		Van Vechten Nigger Heaven 98: By Jove, I’d like to have seen that exhibition!
1934		D.L. Sayers Nine Tailors (1984) 189: By Jove, my lord, and you are right.
c.1943		S .J. Baker Aus. Vulgarisms [t/s] 6: Jesus: Jeez, jeewizz, gee, jiminy, by Jove, by George, by jingo, by jingies, jericho, jerusalem. [added in pencil: Jiminy Cricket.
1945		G. Fairlie Capt. Bulldog Drummond 186: By jove, was this the germ of an idea?
1953		A. Buckeridge Jennings’ Diary 217: By jove, it’s heavy!
1960		H.E. Bates When the Green Woods Laugh (1985) 264: By Jove, I could lie here all night.
1967		F.J. Hardy in Great Aus. Lover Stories 155: By joves, Slice.
1976		H. Leonard Time Was (1981) Act II: By jove.
1978		N. Hilliard Glory and The Dream 61: By joves, you’re right!
1986		R.G. Barrett Godson 344: ‘But by Jove, we’ve had some fun at times, haven’t we?’.
1986		F. Taylor Auf Wiedersehen Pet Two 284: By Jove, you almost gave me the slip there, you crafty little bugger!
1999		Indep. on Sun. Real Life 13 June 3: What larks, by Jove!
2000		Indep. Rev. 7 Mar. 1: By Jove, all this reminiscing is making me peckish.