Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a general excl. of surprise, excitement, alarm etc.

1821		R. Waln Hermit in America on Visit to Phila. 2nd Ser. 25: Overboard! by Moses.
1829		Sheffield Indep. 21 Mar. 3/4: Oh trumpery. Oh Moses sure enuff".
1842		S. Lover Handy Andy 123: Oh Moses!
1845		W.T. Porter Big Bear of Arkansas (1847) 124: But, Moses! warn’t I in a tight place that time?
1848		Sam Sly 30 Dec. 3/3: We should strongly recommend this individual to exercise his vocal talents (mother of Moses! forgive us), for the future, in tap- rooms.
1854		E.T. Perkins Na Motu 71: Among his invectives, the words ‘Jupiter!’ ‘Moses!’ and ‘Mince-meat!’ were conspicuous.
1855		Hereford Times 29 Sept. 6/2: Molly [...] exclaimed, ’Holy mother of Moses!’.
1858		‘A. Pendragon’ Queen of the South 106: ‘Mother o’ Moses!’ cried Peter.
1862		Hereford Times 3 May 6/3: [from Amer. Humour] Moses! warn’t I in a tight place that time?
1869		‘Mark Twain’ Innocents Abroad 52: The suffering Moses! There ain’t money enough in the ship to pay that bill!
1880		N.Z. Observer (Auckland) 2 Oct. 17/2: Moses! how much more can you drink.
1880		Bulletin (Sydney) 15 May 3/4: The biggest moustache on record is the one Michael Angelo cut on his statue of Moses. It weighs a ton and a half. O Moses!
1882		Bristol Magpie 13 July 17/2: ‘Me, drunk? Oh, Moses! You should see the other blooming warrior!’.
1884		Whitstable Times (Kent) 19 July 2/3: ‘Ugh-wow! Suffering Moses,’ he grunted.
1885		Manchester Courier 30 May 9/4: Mother of Moses! Are any of the mules hurt?
1889		B. Mitford Fire Trumpet I 111: A rooi-cat*, by Moses! (*Lynx).
1891		Hants. Teleg. 14 Nov. 9/4: Not find a minister?Suffering Moses! Why the place is eaten alive with them.
1897		O. Wister Lin McLean 147: ‘Suffering Moses!’ remarked his Excellency.
1898		W.T. Goodge ‘How We Drove the Trotter’ at www.poemhunter.com 🌐 Moses, what a smash!
1898		J.D. Brayshaw Slum Silhouettes 13: A man is it? Oh! mother o’ Moses!
1900		Western Mail 21 June 4/8: ‘Suffering Moses!’ exclaimed the angry one.
1907		W.M. Raine Bucky O’Connor (1910) 128: By the mother of Moses! they shall, if Mike O’Halloran has anything to say about it.
1909		W.M. Raine Brand Blotters (1912) 70: My Moses, I’ve got it!
1910		O. Johnson Varmint 148: Suffering Moses!
1913		Truth (Sydney) 15 June 9/4: ‘But by Moses, they’ll discover / This ‘ere time as they will fail!’.
1914		Sydney Sportsman (Surry Hills, NSW) 11 Mar. 3/3: And I think when he do see me, / Moses ! but he’ll do a Guy.
1921		Post (Lanarks.) 8 May 3/4: I was pulled down on my knees, and, Mother o’ Moses! the nigger told me to salaam.
1933		Eve. Teleg. (Dundee) 27 Nov. 9/4: ‘Suffering Moses!’ he murmured [...] ‘What luck!’.
1950		A.B. Guthrie Way West 122: We’re a- turnin’ back, by Moses!
1981		G. Johnston Fish Factory 27: Moses wept! What’s wrong with my . . .?
1994		J. O’Connor Secret World of the Irish Male (1995) 86: Jairseeful Moses, yeh can give them nuttin.
1995		S. Bell If... 1 Dec. in If Files (1997) 41: Crikey Moses!